Mr. D.V. Manjunatha, Founder and CMD, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Limited
"Union Budget 2026 reinforces policy stability for renewable energy and manufacturing. The focus is clearly shifting from incentives to execution, scale, and quality. For companies that have invested early in domestic solar manufacturing, this consistency provides long-term confidence and greater visibility for planning and expansion. With the policy direction firmly in place, the emphasis now is on operational excellence, cost competitiveness, and building depth across the value chain. This approach strengthens India's position as a credible global manufacturing hub for clean energy solutions and supports sustainable, long-term growth."
Mr. Suhas Donthi, CEO, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Limited
"Union Budget 2026 sends a clear and confident signal of stability and continuity. By staying the course on fiscal discipline, sustained public capex, and ease of doing business, the government has reinforced the predictability that capital-intensive sectors like renewable energy manufacturing need to plan, invest, and scale with confidence. The consistency in tax policy and clarity in the operating framework provide strong visibility for long-term decision-making. The continued emphasis on energy transition, demand creation, and infrastructure readiness reflects a firm commitment to India's clean-energy ambitions. As the focus shifts to execution, access to capital, and building deeper domestic value chains, India is well positioned to strengthen its manufacturing competitiveness and establish itself as a reliable global hub for energy and industrial solutions."
Aditya Kale, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Airattix
"With India's cities poised to become major economic powerhouses, Budget 2026–27 highlights opportunities for organized storage, car parking, and last-mile order fulfillment. Increased public capital expenditure, infrastructure development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and tech-driven initiatives like Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and Biopharma Shakti are creating a high-productivity ecosystem for businesses.
Support for MSMEs, AI-based solutions, and research-driven financing models further enables scalable growth, making this the ideal time for tech-savvy startups in movers & packers, luggage storage, and order fulfillment to expand across India. The budget sets the stage for organized, efficient, and digitally-enabled solutions to meet rising urban demand—signaling a pivotal moment for innovation and action in the sector."
"Cancer care today has become very complex and involves the use of many new therapeutic drugs, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and antibody drug conjugates. These cutting-edge medications have significantly improved treatment outcomes, but they are very expensive. As a result, many patients struggle to afford these treatments, which limits their widespread use and prevents many from receiving the best possible care.
In this context, the recent announcement about drug exemptions is a positive development. The hope is that newer treatments particularly immunotherapy, targeted therapies, and antibody drug conjugates will become more affordable. This move may increase the number of patients who can access advanced cancer treatments. With reduced costs, more individuals may receive these life-saving therapies, ultimately improving the overall quality and reach of cancer care." - Dr. Amit Rauthan, HOD & Consultant – Medical Oncology, Immunotherapy and Precision Medicine, Manipal Hospital, Old Airport Road, Bangalore.
Mr Vineet Nayar, Former CEO of HCL Technologies and Founder-Chairman of Sampark Foundation said, "The Budget offered a muted nod to AI, positioning such cutting-edge technologies as force multipliers for better governance, but restraining to over-hype it. I echo FM Sitharaman's call that technology adoption must be inclusive, benefitting various section of society, resonating with our own work to leverage such innovations frugally to support teachers and improve students' learning outcomes. AI must be looked at as a co-pilot; augmenting, not replacing, human potential. And the FM's recommendation for the Education to Employment Committee to assess AI's impact on jobs and skilling will be key in this regard. The Economic Survey, too, offered critical guidance: India's late entry into the global AI race is not a curse but an opportunity, with hindsight as an important advantage. Skipping the prestige race, it suggests looking at AI with a bottom-up strategy, emphasizing application-led innovation and a more resource-efficient design aligned with India's needs."
Shrenik Gandhi, Co-founder and CEO, White Rivers Media -
Budget 2026 opens with a clear belief in India's orange economy - creativity, content, culture, and creators as real economic engines.
By backing AVGC, sports, and creative education, it recognises the creator economy as an increasingly serious source of jobs and global influence. This marks a shift from viewing creativity as soft power to treating it as economic power.
The larger message is that India's growth will now be built on talent, not just infrastructure. Yuva Shakti is positioned as both a demographic advantage and an entrepreneurial force.
Startups are being acknowledged as core builders of scale, efficiency, and innovation. The focus on services signals confidence in India leading value-driven global exports.
Artificial Intelligence clearly emerges as a key growth multiplier across sectors - from farms to classrooms to enterprises. What stands out is the intent to use AI to augment human capability, not replace it.
Access to risk capital for MSMEs and women entrepreneurs remains a critical foundation. Job creation is being approached through skills, platforms, and long-term ecosystem thinking.
Overall, Budget 2026 reinforces that India's next decade will be defined by builders, creators, and problem-solvers.
Mr S Sankarasubramanian, Chairman, The Fertiliser Association of India and Managing Director and CEO, Coromandel International Ltd
"This Budget brings together productivity, resilience, and affordability in a way that reflects the evolving needs of Indian agriculture. The focus on district-level outcomes, better seeds, diversified cropping, and multilingual digital advisory platforms has the potential to meaningfully improve on-farm decision-making and input efficiency, provided execution remains closely aligned with ground realities.
The fertiliser allocations underline a steady commitment to domestic capability. Support of ₹91,000 crore for indigenous urea and ₹34,000 crore for domestically produced P&K fertilisers, alongside imported fertiliser support of ₹32,000 crore for urea and ₹20,000 crore for P&K, reinforces supply security while maintaining farmer access to affordable nutrients. The emphasis on customs duty rationalisation and addressing inverted GST structures is particularly important, as it helps streamline costs, improve cash flows, and create a more predictable operating environment.
Overall, the approach strengthens alignment between agricultural priorities and industrial sustainability, supporting farmers today while building a more resilient and efficient fertiliser ecosystem for the future."
Quote by Ashka Pandit, Director, Sri Lotus Developers and Realty Limited
Budget 2026 marks a pivotal moment for Indian real estate. The Rs 12.2 lakh crore capital expenditure allocation and Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund directly address the sector's financing challenges, unlocking greater liquidity and execution efficiency for developers.
The sustained focus on Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities opens tremendous opportunities- these emerging markets represent India's next real estate frontier with immense potential for residential and commercial developments as infrastructure connectivity transforms them into prime investment destinations. The construction equipment enhancement scheme further elevates execution standards. Notably, promoter buybacks will now attract dual taxation- both capital gains tax and buyback tax. Overall, this budget architects a robust ecosystem positioning real estate as a cornerstone of India's economic growth.
Mr. Arnav Kumar, co-founder of Leap-
"The Union Budget's education thrust signals a decisive shift from enrolment to employability. By formally anchoring an Education-to-Employment pipeline, investing in creator-economy skilling at scale, and building university townships closer to industry corridors, the government is recognising that higher education must translate into real career outcomes. For students aspiring to study abroad, the reduction in TCS on education remittances meaningfully eases cash-flow pressure and improves access. Taken together, these measures reinforce India's ambition to produce globally competitive talent - where education is a launchpad for international careers and entrepreneurship."
Vinod Sah, CTO and Co-Founder at CoTrav-
"The Budget has very aptly positioned tourism, MSMEs and infrastructure as interconnected engines of job creation and regional growth. Investments in Tier II and Tier III cities, digital public infrastructure like the National Destination Digital Knowledge Grid, and focused skilling through institutions such as the National Institute of Hospitality will significantly modernise India's travel ecosystem. For travel-tech and mobility platforms, this creates a strong foundation to enable compliant, efficient and sustainable corporate travel while empowering local enterprises. The push to create Champion SMEs and strengthen liquidity will further accelerate innovation and formalisation across the sector. Improved access to equity and faster, more reliable cash flows will also give MSMEs greater confidence to expand operations, deepen inter-city business activity, and contribute more consistently to India's domestic travel economy."
Mr. Roy Aniruddha, Co-Founder & Chairman TechnoStruct Academy-
The Union Budget 2026 presents a forward-looking vision for bridging skill development with infrastructure growth, particularly in emerging sectors like construction technology and digital engineering. The government's announcement of five university townships near industrial and logistics corridors is a significant step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration and creating a skilled workforce aligned with real infrastructure demands. Additionally, the focus on NSQF-aligned skill programmes and technology-driven education frameworks will help prepare youth for specialised construction and design roles.
The strong emphasis on domestic manufacturing of advanced construction and infrastructure equipment, along with revival of 200 legacy industrial clusters, is expected to generate significant demand for trained technical professionals. As construction increasingly integrates digital tools such as BIM, AI-driven project planning, and sustainable design technologies, policy support for digital education and vocational training will play a crucial role in future-proofing India's workforce and accelerating infrastructure-led economic growth.
Ricky Vasandani, CEO & Co-Founder, Solitario
"Budget 2026 sends a strong signal for sectors driven by advanced manufacturing, ethical sourcing, and consumer-led growth. Measures such as the continued focus on retail-led demand, the ₹1.4 lakh crore allocation towards growth-oriented priorities, and the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund under the 'Champion SMEs' initiative are expected to improve access to capital for innovation-driven businesses, while targeted tax reforms under the new regime could support consumption in discretionary categories.
Equally impactful are the export-focused reforms, including faster and low-intervention customs processes, duty rationalisation, and exemptions on capital goods linked to critical mineral processing. Alongside the sustained emphasis on R&D and responsible adoption of advanced technologies, these steps create a more enabling environment for lab-grown diamond and ethical luxury manufacturers to scale responsibly, strengthen global competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to India's vision of Viksit Bharat."
Parth Amin, CEO & Co-Founder, Decode Age
"The Union Budget 2026-27 is a definitive signal that India is ready to lead the longevity revolution. For years, we have argued that the future of healthcare lies in targeting the biological roots of aging rather than just managing end-stage disease. With the launch of the Biopharma SHAKTI scheme, the government has provided the missing piece of the puzzle: a massive ₹10,000 crore commitment to the science of biologics and precision medicine.
This budget effectively ends the era of 'sick-care' and marks the beginning of a data-led, preventive era. By prioritizing advanced research infrastructure and clinical networks, the government is creating the exact ecosystem needed for companies like Decode Age to scale life-extending innovations. We are no longer just talking about longevity. We are building a future where every Indian can expect more years of peak health and productivity. The mandate is clear: it is time to shift the focus from merely surviving to truly thriving."
Anshita Kulshrestha - Founder & CEO Tuktuki Entertainments
This budget sends a strong signal that India is ready to treat the creator economy as serious national infrastructure, not a side hustle. The recognition of the orange economy, the focus on skilling through Content Creator Labs and social security for platform workers shows intent to professionalise digital storytelling at scale. The opportunity now lies in execution: ensuring capital access, clear monetisation frameworks, and creator-first policies keep pace with the talent pipeline. If done right, India won't just produce content for itself, but export culture to the world.
Duraisamy Rajan Palani (Durai), Founder and CEO of Archimedis Digital
"The Union Budget 2026 announcement around BioPharma Shakti with a ₹10,000 crore outlay is a timely and strategic move to position India as a global biopharma manufacturing and innovation hub, especially as the country's disease burden shifts towards chronic and non-communicable conditions. What will truly differentiate this push is the intelligent adoption of digital technologies and AI across the biopharma value chain—from R&D and clinical trials to manufacturing, quality assurance and regulatory compliance. As India moves to implement the revised Schedule M, digital-first systems, AI-led data analytics, and real-time quality intelligence will be critical to embedding data integrity, audit readiness, and traceability by design—rather than as post-facto compliance. Technologies such as digital twins and predictive modelling can significantly shorten development cycles, improve yield efficiency, and ensure consistent adherence to global GMP and data integrity standards expected by regulators. This convergence of regulatory reform and advanced technology has the potential to elevate global confidence in Indian biopharma—from being seen as a cost-efficient manufacturer to a trusted, high-quality innovation partner. Additionally, the government's emphasis on cutting-edge technologies under the three Kartavya framework sends a clear signal that India's biopharma growth will be driven not just by capacity, but by technology-led competitiveness, credibility, and resilience. For Archimedis Digital, this creates a powerful opportunity to build digital-first, future-ready biopharma ecosystems that can take Indian innovation confidently to the world."
Harsh Bansal, MD of BMW Industries Limited-
"The Union Budget 2026–27 makes an important move for India's steel sector by proposing a ₹20,000 crore outlay over the next five years for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies. This investment recognises that while steel production is a key driver of India's infrastructure and development, it is also one of the most carbon‑intensive industries. Supporting CCUS will help steel companies capture and reuse carbon emissions, reduce environmental impact, and align with global climate commitments such as India's net‑zero by 2070 goal.
For the steel industry as a whole, this Budget measure provides a practical solution to strengthen competitiveness in a world increasingly focused on low‑carbon manufacturing. By lowering the cost barrier for adopting CCUS and related green technologies, the government is encouraging producers to transition toward cleaner operations. This will attract investment, enable access to export markets with carbon standards, and improve the sector's global standing. At the same time, simplifying customs processes and making imports and exports easier will reduce transaction delays and costs, further enhancing India's competitiveness in global steel trade. These actions will also help build stronger supply chains and create new opportunities in areas such as recycled steel, green hydrogen integration, and renewable energy use within steel plants.
Overall, this Budget initiative is a step toward balancing industrial growth with environmental responsibility, enabling the steel industry to grow sustainably, reduce its carbon footprint, and contribute to India's broader climate, economic, and trade goals."
Naveen Mahesh, Co-founder, Beyond 8 -
The Union Budget 2026 to 27 makes a clear statement that India's next growth phase depends on how quickly we can connect education to employment and enterprise. The proposed high-powered Education to Employment and Enterprise Standing Committee signals a stronger outcome lens, especially for the services sector and AI shaped jobs. The Budget also backs new-age pathways through AVGC content creator labs in 15,000 secondary schools and 500 colleges, a new National Institute of Design in the eastern region, and university townships near major industrial and logistics corridors.
At Beyond 8, learning is personalised, connected to the real world, and anchored in agency rather than compliance. Young people do not just complete school, they grow into confident decision makers. It is reassuring to see national policy moving in the same direction.
Dr. Pallavi Rao Chaturvedi, Parenting Coach & Educationist, Get Set Parent; Executive Vice President AISECT
"Union Budget 2026 strategically allocates ₹25 Crore to AI Missions, alongside targeted infrastructure investments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, positioning India as a global hub for inclusive technological advancement. Flexible Workspace is primed to capitalize on this momentum: our scalable, tech-enabled workspaces deliver optimized environments for AI innovators, quantum research teams, and high-growth enterprises. By enabling seamless collaboration, cost-efficient scalability, and rapid go-to-market execution, we drive measurable business outcomes that align with national missions like Anusandan and the R&D Innovation Fund propelling India's competitive edge in the knowledge economy"
" Aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat, the Union Budget reinforces the focus on sustainability-driven growth for India's core manufacturing sectors. For stainless steel manufacturers, decarbonisation is pivotal to long-term competitiveness and aligning with global export standards.
The ₹20,000 crore commitment towards carbon capture and utilisation acknowledges the challenges faced by hard-to-abate sectors and is expected to accelerate the adoption of cleaner, more efficient processes across the steel value chain. A well-defined implementation roadmap and access to advanced technologies will be crucial in translating this support into tangible, industry-wide impact. "
- Chandragupt Prakash Mangal, Managing Director, Mangalam Worldwide Limited.
Ganesh Sonawane, CEO and Co-Founder, Frido
"The Union Budget 2026 marks a significant step forward for India's consumer manufacturing ecosystem. By easing input costs and streamlining digital cargo clearances, the Budget creates a faster, more cost-efficient environment for brands to scale operations and compete on a global stage. These measures not only enhance competitiveness but also reinforce India's commitment to building a modern, agile manufacturing landscape that can respond to both domestic and international demand.
A particularly encouraging aspect of the Budget is its focus on strengthening the assistive technology sector. The proposed Assistive Technology Marts - retail-style centres where persons with disabilities and seniors can explore, test, and purchase reliable mobility and ergonomic solutions, represent a shift from a traditional welfare approach to an innovation-driven agenda. By ensuring direct access to affordable, tested, and future-ready devices, these initiatives empower citizens and create opportunities for entrepreneurs and manufacturers to develop solutions that address real-world needs.
Together, these measures signal a clear commitment to creating a consumer-centric, inclusive, and technologically advanced manufacturing ecosystem. By combining operational efficiency, targeted innovation, and social impact, the Budget not only addresses present challenges but also positions India for long-term leadership in global consumer manufacturing and inclusive innovation. It lays the foundation for a future where competitiveness, accessibility, and technological progress move hand in hand, driving growth and empowerment for all citizens."
