Subramanyam S, CEO, AscentHR Technologies :
Labour Codes & Compliance Modernisation: "With India's new labour codes now a reality, the real test in the coming Budget will be whether policy moves from legislation to execution. Employers need clarity, digital readiness and compliance continuity — not just new rules. A strong Budget will be one that funds enforcement infrastructure, digitisation and transition support so businesses can implement the codes without operational shocks." — Subramanyam S, CEO, AscentHR Technologies
Hiring, Talent & Business Confidence: "India does not have a job creation problem — it has a job formalisation and productivity problem. In the next Budget, what industry needs most is not more hiring subsidies, but a simpler, predictable compliance framework that allows companies to hire faster and with confidence. When hiring becomes easy, especially for MSMEs and start-ups, employment follows automatically." — Subramanyam S, CEO, AscentHR Technologies.
“The dairy sector is a cornerstone of India’s food security and rural economy, directly supporting millions of farmers and allied livelihoods. Union Budget 2026 presents a timely opportunity to accelerate the next phase of growth for this vital sector.
We welcome the government’s continued support on the GST front and believe there is scope for further rationalisation of key inputs such as packaging material, refrigeration equipment, animal feed and veterinary services. This would go a long way in easing rising cost pressures and improving overall efficiency across the value chain.
A strong policy push towards strengthening cold-chain infrastructure and logistics is critical. Enhanced capital subsidies, interest subvention schemes and easier access to long-term credit will help bridge existing infrastructure gaps, reduce wastage and improve milk quality, especially in hinterland regions.
Targeted incentives for both dairy companies and farmers are equally important. Initiatives focused on productivity enhancement, fodder development, animal health, affordable cattle insurance and cold-chain logistics can significantly improve farmer incomes while ensuring consistency in supply.
From an industry standpoint, incentives for value-added dairy products, automation, advanced quality-testing laboratories and sustainability initiatives will encourage private players to invest in modern, scalable capacity aligned with global standards.
Overall, a balanced and forward-looking Budget that strengthens farmer incomes, upgrades infrastructure and enables organised dairy players to scale sustainably will create long-term value for the sector and reinforce India’s position as one of the world’s leading dairy economies.”
- Dr. K Rathnam, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, Milky Mist Dairy Food Limited.
Ashish Pandey, Director & Co-Founder, BuyBuyCart
A major change in the retail market of India is taking place, which is mainly caused by the quick rise of organized and neighborhood stores through franchises, along with the acceptance of private labels becoming more common. Organized retail is expected to grow within the next two or three years by 15–18% every year, with private labels being at a rate of over 20% CAGR, along with the help of value-conscious buyers, better sourcing, and the retailers having a stronger control over the quality and price. Franchise-based retail models are one of the main factors to boost the penetration in tier II and III cities, which results in quicker scaling up, lower risk of capital being lower, and local entrepreneurship and jobs being created. Private labels, especially in FMCG, daily essentials, personal care, and home categories, account for about 10–12% of organized retail sales at present, and they are very likely to double their share at least by 2027 since consumers are going to rely more on value, consistency, and trust. The Budget that is on the way can be a great help in the form of easier institutional credit access for franchise partners, GST on private-label and essential goods rationalization, incentives for local sourcing and packaging, and small-format retailers facing fewer compliance issues. The measures mentioned can then, in turn, enhance the retail backbone of India, support the new generation of entrepreneurs, and the future retail and private label ecosystems that are going to be scalable and locally produced.
Priyanka Aeron, Co-founder of Thrive Global AI (Deeptech Startup)
We, at Thrive Global, expect the upcoming Union Budget to deliver a clear and forward-looking roadmap that strengthens India's AI startup ecosystem and accelerates deep-tech innovation. The AI-based enterprises are no longer just experimenting but are already making a difference in various sectors like healthcare, fintech, retail, manufacturing, and governance. The government's backing can result in these startups increasing the rate of innovation, the level of productivity, and the global market position significantly.
Also, the reduced compliance frameworks and the public-private collaboration will be conducive to the start-ups gaining access to the market faster and going on to create meaningful solutions. A balanced and clear-cut approach to responsible AI is equally important. Moreover, the partnership of heavy investments in AI skills, ethical governance structures, and cooperation between industry can bring about innovation that is both accountable and trusted. For us at Thrive Global, we expect the budget to be a source of long-term structural support for AI startups, thus giving power to the founders to create solutions that can compete globally and, at the same time, strengthen India's aspiration to be a reliable actor in the artificial intelligence space.
Mr. Shams Tabrej, Co-founder & CEO of Ezeepay
"As India prepares for the Union Budget 2026, the emphasis should not be just on digital adoption but on meaningful deepening, especially in the rural and semi-urban areas of India. Last years budget brought about a major change in taxation with the exemption of personal income tax for those earning up to ₹12 lakh under the new regime. Simultaneously, the digital payments landscape in India is on a fast track to maturity. UPI is now the leading platform for digital payments, with the number of transactions surpassing 20 billion monthly and the transaction value hitting ₹27 lakh crore during peak months like October 2025, which signifies a strong daily engagement with the financial system.
On the other hand, if the next wave of inclusive growth is to be unlocked, then Budget 2026 should give priority to last-mile integration that is accessible, sustainable, and trustworthy. The strengthening of the incentives for Banking Correspondents and local merchants supported by fintech would mean that financial access in regions that are not well served would be faster. The reduction of the compliance costs for small fintech companies and the acceleration of payment cycles under government-led financial inclusion programs would mean that the service at the grassroots level would be continuous. At the same time, the investment in secure digital infrastructure, fraud risk management, Aadhaar-enabled payments, and rural connectivity from the very beginning is important in order to differentiate and protect first-time digital users, building their confidence in formal financial systems. With India ready to admit the next 500 million digital finance users, Budget 2026 can bring about inclusive and reliable growth for all of India."
Mr. Srinivas Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Alligator Automations
The technology exports related to automation and robotics and AI-based manufacturing in India are expected to experience robust double-digit growth over the next two to three years on the back of supply chain diversification and the worldwide fast-tracking of the modernization of factories on a global scale. The industrial automation and robotics industry's export volume is expected to display a CAGR of 18-22% and reach the mark of USD 15-18 billion by 2027, as estimated by industry experts.
The Indian automation companies are gradually receiving recognition not only as cost-effective system integrators but also as cutting-edge and trustworthy technology partners who have the capability to provide comprehensive solutions to factory automation. The same is reflected in the rising competitiveness in the international market in turnkey automation projects, robotic end-of-line solutions, machine vision solutions, and AI-driven quality inspections. The automated solutions provided by these companies are seeing a rising demand in the automobile, FMCG, pharmaceutical, and electronic industries combined, which comprise around 65% to 70% of the total export
demands.
Artificial intelligence has also been emerging as an important growth catalyst in this environment. Being incorporated into manufacturing operations, it offers users predictive maintenance, real-time operations, and informed decision-making, which cumulatively enhance overall equipment effectiveness by up to 10 to 15%. With exporting manufacturing units leading the adoption charge in robotics, robot density in these units is expected to see an increase in density levels greater than those in past levels. This also signifies that India has moved ahead in diligently developing an overall automation environment. The support of the policy will play an important role in maintaining this pace. The budget measures aimed at the sector include increased R&D tax support, export-oriented PLI plans for automation hardware and software, accelerated depreciation for Industry 4.0, enhanced access to export credits for the long term, and skilling programs for robotics and artificial intelligence. All of the above measures together have the potential to bring about the shift of India as a global hub for innovative manufacturing and intelligent automation solutions.
Mr. Sagar Gupta, Co-Founder & Director, Ekka Electronics-
"As India approaches the Union Budget 2026, the electronics manufacturing sector is at a pivotal stage, driven by strong domestic demand, export opportunities, and the government's push toward self-reliance. While initiatives like PLI have accelerated assembly-led manufacturing, the next phase of growth must focus on deepening the component ecosystem, including PCBs, semiconductors, passive components, and precision electronics, to support design-led and product-owned manufacturing.
We believe the upcoming Budget should prioritise rationalisation of import duties on critical raw materials, long-term policy clarity for ODM-led manufacturers, and expanded incentives for design ownership, product engineering, and R&D. Access to affordable long-tenure capital, support for automation, and skilling in design for manufacturability and advanced electronics manufacturing will be key to improving competitiveness and quality consistency.
With the right policy support, Indian electronics manufacturers can move beyond assembly, reduce import dependence, and establish India as a trusted global design-driven electronics manufacturing hub."
Mr. Keyur Shah, Chairman & Managing Director, Yash Highvoltage Limited mentions, "The Indian power sector delivered a record performance in 2025 by meeting peak demand, expanding capacity and sharply reducing shortages. As we look ahead, the Union Budget should sustain the momentum through continued capital expenditure, with FY27 outlays in the ₹12–13 lakh crore range, while remaining committed to fiscal consolidation.
Infrastructure-led growth will remain pivotal, and higher allocations to the power sector can further strengthen access to reliable and affordable electricity. At the same time, accelerated investments in renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage and green hydrogen are essential to meet rising demand and future-proof the sector. Extending PLI-type incentives to niche power equipment manufacturers, including MSMEs, along with a rationalised indirect tax and customs framework, will enhance domestic competitiveness and help build a resilient, globally competitive power ecosystem. These measures will be key to strengthening domestic manufacturing and positioning India as a global hub for advanced power equipment."
Abhinav Singh, CEO of Techugo
The Indian technology services and digital product export industry, which includes mobile engineering, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and data platforms, is going to have a good growth period as the big companies all over the world are pushing the digital transformation plan more. The digital engineering and software exports from India are expected to grow steadily by 12-15% for the next two to three years, with the AI services alone predicted to catch the eye with a whopping 25% CAGR.
Industry analysts predict a figure of 250-270 billion US dollars for India's information technology and digital services exports by 2027, mainly because of North America's and the EU's insatiable demand for these services. The Indian technology sector is gradually being acknowledged as not only the one practicing the most efficient execution but also as being very capable in security and scalability when it comes to the digital product side. Fintech, healthcare, retail, logistics, and the consumer internet are the major sectors creating more than 60% of the demand for digital product engineering. AI, among the new technologies, is also leading to the greatest power of growth enhancers because it enables shorter development cycles, smart automation, and ultra-personalization; thus, it is able to raise productivity and reduce time to market by as much as 20-30%.
The upcoming budget allocations can make this trend even more powerful, particularly through the support of heavy financial investment in AI R&D, the more distinct data governance policies and cross-border data flows, the ease of access to venture capital, and the programs for massive skilling in the areas of AI, Cloud, and Cybersecurity. Following these measures, India can not only maintain but also strengthen its position as a global hub for next-generation digital innovation.
Satish Kumar Singh, Founder, MY LYF CARE
"Building on the momentum of last year's enhanced healthcare allocation, which emphasized the digital health infrastructure, telemedicine, and technology-driven service delivery, we see the Budget 2026 as a major accelerator for India's HealthTech ecosystem. The most important areas where growth will be possible include the development of AI-based diagnostics and the establishment of integrated digital health platforms, which will ensure that healthcare becomes more efficient and accessible all over India. Besides, in the coming years, we expect the government to increase its funding for R&D (Research and Development) in HealthTech projects, as well as the establishment of more government-backed initiatives to encourage innovation in Startups and Digital Infrastructure Development. This will also help to speed up the Urban-Rural divide in healthcare service delivery. Moreover, the Public and Private Sectors working together would be able to reap the benefits of innovation and increased employment through the clearer GST (Goods & Services Tax) and Technology Adoption Incentive Policies. It was also mentioned that investing in domestic manufacturing while clarifying regulations would place India on a par with the best in the Global HealthTech Industry and thus, indirectly making India the leading country in Healthcare Innovation."
Ankit Chadha, Managing Director, TRC Consulting
We hope that the government will simplify compliance. Currently, the compliances form a tough maze for startups. From GST and other taxes to labor laws and data privacy rules, there's a complex web of paperwork, and early-stage startups have limited resources. Moreover, with so many complexities, investors spend considerable time on due diligence, which delays funding. Additionally, easier access to credit is something we all want to ensure long-term growth and stability. For instance, the encouragement of alternative credit scoring for startups with strong tech but few assets and no credit history.
