Ms. Rima Singh, Head of DPS International-
Union Budget 2026 takes a meaningful step toward aligning education with future workforce needs. By strengthening industry linkages, expanding practical learning opportunities, and investing in inclusive initiatives such as AI-driven learning and girls' hostels, it lays the foundation for a more skilled, innovative, and future-ready India.
Union budget 2026-27 quote by Mr. Hemant Sapra, President, Global Sales & Marketing, KARAM Safety -
We welcome the Union Budget 2026–27's focus on strengthening the MSME and manufacturing ecosystem, including the ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund and the ₹4,000 crore top-up to the Self-Reliant India Fund, which will provide vital capital support for enterprises to scale and compete globally. With over 5.9 crore registered MSMEs employing 25 crore people, contributing nearly 37 % to manufacturing output and 45 % to exports, these measures are critical for driving inclusive industrial growth. We also applaud the Government's initiative to set up a High-Powered 'Education to Employment and Enterprise' Standing Committee, which will focus on linking education, entrepreneurship, and employment, assessing emerging technologies like AI, and recommending measures to enhance skills and productivity. This integrated approach is expected to strengthen domestic manufacturing, improve workforce readiness, and create sustainable employment opportunities across sectors.
Mr. V. P. Nandakumar, Chairman & Managing Director, Manappuram Finance Ltd.-
"The India–US trade agreement signals a pragmatic reset in bilateral economic engagement. By easing tariff pressures and improving market access, it creates stronger conditions for export-led growth, investment expansion, and supply-chain integration. The deal reflects mature economic diplomacy and is expected to reinforce long-term trade confidence between the two nations.
For the financial services sector, the India–US trade agreement strengthens the investment environment by improving predictability, facilitating capital flows, and enhancing cross-border confidence. Lower trade frictions support credit expansion, MSME financing, and fintech collaboration, enabling NBFCs and banks to play a larger role in facilitating trade-led growth between the two economies."
Mr. D.V. Manjunatha, Founder and CMD, Emmvee Photovoltaic Power Limited-
"India's economic outlook continues to be supported by domestic fundamentals and ongoing structural reforms. The market response following the India–US trade agreement reflects steady global interest in India's growth prospects, rather than a shift in the underlying trajectory.
The agreement provides incremental advantages through lower tariffs and improved market access, which can further enhance the competitiveness of Indian exporters across manufacturing and services. The deal does strengthen global linkages and offers additional opportunities for businesses to scale and diversify as more details emerge."
Chanakya Bellam, Director, AION-tech Solutions
"Union Budget 2026–27 addresses one of the most persistent structural challenges faced by India's IT sector—transfer pricing uncertainty—with a set of practical, execution-focused reforms. The consolidation of software services, ITES, KPO and contract R&D under a single 'Information Technology Services' category brings long-overdue clarity to how modern, integrated tech businesses operate.
The expansion of the safe harbour threshold from ₹300 crore to ₹2,000 crore, combined with a uniform margin and a five-year validity option, meaningfully reduces compliance friction and litigation risk for mid-to-large IT firms and global capability centres. Equally important is the move to an automated, rule-driven approval process, which limits discretion and provides predictability in cross-border transactions.
Fast-tracked unilateral APAs and the extension of modified returns to associated entities further strengthen India's attractiveness as a base for global technology operations. Overall, these reforms signal a mature, stability-driven policy approach that supports sustained growth, investment and long-term competitiveness in the IT ecosystem."
Mr. Nitin Rastogi, Senior Vice President - MD office, Walplast Products Private Limited-
The Union Budget 2026 offers a constructive backdrop for the construction and building materials industry. The 9% rise in capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore reinforces the government's focus on infrastructure creation and is expected to sustain execution across key sectors. Continued fiscal discipline, with the deficit held near 4.4% of GDP, should support macroeconomic stability and improve financing conditions for housing and commercial projects. The emphasis on expanding infrastructure beyond metropolitan centres, along with steps such as infrastructure risk guarantees, is likely to enhance private sector participation. Collectively, these measures strengthen demand visibility and promote a more resilient and balanced growth environment for the construction value chain."
Sunil Jose, President - Workday India said, "This year's Budget places people, skills, and AI at the centre of India's long-term growth agenda. By encouraging large-scale AI investments and inviting global organisations to build and innovate in India through tax incentives extending up to 2047, the government is reinforcing India's ambition to become a global hub for talent and technology. The focus on education-to-employment pathways, continuous skilling, and AI-enabled workforce transformation reflects a clear understanding of how work is evolving. For organisations, sustained investments in skills, workforce agility, and human-centric technology will be critical to driving productivity and inclusive growth."
The Union Budget 2026 reflects a broadly progressive and forward-looking approach to travel and tourism, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure development, sustainability, and regional destination growth. Initiatives such as the development of tourism circuits in the North East, high-speed rail corridors, enhanced last-mile connectivity, skilling of guides, and the introduction of e-buses will significantly strengthen domestic tourism and improve India's readiness for high-quality inbound travel.
From an outbound tourism perspective, the rationalisation of TCS to a flat 2 per cent on overseas tour packages is a timely and welcome move. It eases cash-flow pressures for travellers, removes friction in trip planning, and importantly, helps protect the role of Indian tour operators in the outbound ecosystem.
At the same time, while the Budget signals strong intent, the absence of immediate fiscal allocation for overseas destination marketing and the continued lack of comprehensive infrastructure status for tourism remain key gaps. To fully unlock India's potential—particularly for high-value inbound and experiential travel—policy intent must now be matched with targeted financial support, structural reforms, and a sharper global marketing strategy. This alignment will be critical to translating today's announcements into sustained, long-term growth for domestic, inbound, and outbound tourism alike, says Louis D'Souza, Managing Partner, Tamarind Global.
