Mr. Sunny Bhanushali, Founder, Aliens Tattoos
"Creative startups operate at the intersection of culture, design, and technology, and we are building entirely new markets. Policy support has largely focused on software and SaaS; this Budget is an opportunity to widen that lens. Incentives for IP creation, support for design-led exports, and easier access to working capital would accelerate growth. If India wants to lead in cultural and creative exports, creativity must be treated as an innovation economy, not just an artistic one."
Education & Vocational / Creative Skilling POV
Mr. Sunny Bhanushali, Founder, Aliens Tattoo Art School
"India has a rapidly growing but under-recognised creative economy, and tattoo art today represents a serious career pathway. Budget 2026 should strengthen future-forward skilling by supporting vocational and creative institutions, improving access to student financing, and integrating modern art forms within Skill India frameworks. Structured training can convert hobbyists into globally employable artists, unlocking thousands of sustainable creative careers."
FMCG / Spice Manufacturing POV
Mr. Yashmit Gala, CEO, Gala Ji Spices
"For India's spice sector to regain export momentum, Budget 2026 must prioritise policy stability and long-term clarity in export frameworks, which are essential for attracting investment and reducing uncertainty for manufacturers and farmers alike. Incentivising value addition—by supporting the processing of raw spices into higher-value products—will enable Indian brands to move beyond bulk commodity exports and capture greater returns domestically. Increased and timely allocations for schemes such as the Spices Board's SPICED Scheme can play a crucial role in strengthening farmer linkages, ensuring quality compliance, and enhancing manufacturing capabilities. At the same time, encouraging FDI in food processing under Make in India will help modernise infrastructure and improve global competitiveness, especially as Indian exporters face growing competition from countries that currently capture much of the value addition overseas. Finally, exploring price support mechanisms for key spice crops during periods of sharp price decline—on the lines of MSP—would provide much-needed income stability across the spice value chain, from farm to export."
"As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, the industry would welcome continued support to strengthen India's manufacturing ecosystem through policy stability, infrastructure development, and a level playing field for domestic producers. For the metals and stainless steel sector, factors such as rising steel input costs, raw material volatility, global trade disruptions, and dumping pressures continue to pose challenges.
The forthcoming Budget may consider measures such as trade safeguards where appropriate, rationalisation of duties on critical steel inputs, and incentives that encourage capacity expansion and value-added manufacturing. Improved access to long term financing for technology upgrades, compliance requirements, and scale efficiencies could further support sectoral growth."- — Chandragupt Prakash Mangal, Managing Director, Mangalam Worldwide Limited.
Attributed to Mr. Ganesh Kohli, Founder of IC3 Movement
India's ambition to emerge as a global education destination will be shaped not only by physical expansion or international collaborations, but by how effectively students and families are supported to navigate choice within an increasingly complex education ecosystem. Across Indian and international boards, there is a clear shift toward skills-based learning, flexible pathways, and competency-driven assessment, reflecting a national move beyond exam-centric outcomes.
This direction is further reinforced by NITI Aayog's emphasis on academic quality, deeper global collaboration, research integration, and institutional readiness. As transnational education models evolve and student pathways become more interconnected, the ability to interpret choice and make informed decisions becomes central to student success.
To translate these reforms into meaningful outcomes, career and academic guidance must be recognised as core educational infrastructure rather than an optional service. Budget 2026 presents a timely opportunity to strengthen counselling capacity at the school level, ensuring students are equipped to understand flexibility early, align learning with aspiration, and progress with confidence.
A globally credible education system ultimately rests on students who understand their pathways and move through them with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Attributed to Mr. Aritra Ghosal, Founder and CEO, OneStep Global
"As India moves toward its goal of becoming a global higher education hub, Budget 2026 must prioritise the systems that turn student interest into lasting outcomes. Attracting international students is only the first step; what truly matters is whether institutions can deliver recognised qualifications, research exposure and credible career pathways at scale. International credentials do not create value on their own unless they are supported by strong industry linkages, employer recognition and on-ground student success frameworks. The NITI Aayog roadmap rightly emphasises quality and governance. What India now needs are robust recruitment, conversion and academic delivery mechanisms that give students confidence that studying in India leads to meaningful academic and professional returns."
Attributed to Tripti Maheshwari, Co-Founder & Director, Student Circus
"As India moves toward its ambition of hosting over one million international students by 2047, Budget 2026 becomes a decisive moment to shift from policy intent to on-ground delivery. The NITI Aayog roadmap makes it clear that growth without quality will not build a sustainable global reputation, and this must be reflected in how funding and incentives are designed. Investment should focus on globally benchmarked curricula, strong research ecosystems and transparent quality assurance across institutions.
With foreign universities expected to expand their presence in India, success will ultimately be judged by student outcomes rather than the number of campuses created. International students increasingly choose destinations based on employability, industry linkages and post-study career prospects. Budgetary support that encourages industry-integrated learning, international faculty collaboration and outcome-linked funding can significantly strengthen India's credibility as a competitive, value-driven study destination."
Attributed to Omar Chihane, Global General Manager, TOEFL, ETS
"As India looks ahead to the Union Budget 2026–27, the focus must shift from intent to execution in building a globally competitive education and skills ecosystem. Over the past few years, the foundations for internationalisation and workforce readiness have been laid; the next step is ensuring scale, quality, and outcomes.
Priority should be given to embedding globally benchmarked language proficiency and skills assessments across secondary and higher education, so students are internationally prepared well before graduation. Equally important is investing in transparent, credible assessment and testing infrastructure that supports mobility, employability, and trust in Indian talent worldwide.
The Budget also presents an opportunity to strengthen India's position as both a source and destination for global talent. Targeted funding for merit-based scholarships, joint research pathways, and international faculty and student exchange programmes can help retain knowledge, drive innovation, and deepen global collaboration. With sustained public–private partnerships and outcome-linked investments, Budget 2026 can play a defining role in positioning India not just as a talent supplier, but as a global education and assessment hub."
Pushkar Saran, Executive Director – Southeast Asia and South Asia, Institutional Products, TOEIC, ETS:
"India's skilling challenge today is not about scale, but about workplace readiness and credibility. As labour market signals clearly show, the fastest-growing roles across AI, technology, healthcare, GCCs and global services increasingly require professionals who can communicate clearly, collaborate across borders and function in hybrid, AI-enabled workplaces. Yet a large proportion of job-seekers continue to feel unprepared for these real-world demands, despite having formal qualifications.
With India sitting at a unique demographic and geographic advantage, supplying talent both within the country and to global labour markets, workplace communication, particularly in English, has become a decisive employability factor. Budget 2026 presents a critical opportunity to strengthen India's skilling architecture by moving beyond training volumes to standardised, job-relevant validation of workplace skills, aligned with employer expectations globally. Without addressing this skills-validation gap, India risks under-leveraging its talent potential at a time when global demand for Indian professionals is rising."
Anshita Kulshrestha - Founder & CEO-
"We look forward to the upcoming Union Budget. India's media and entertainment boom is powered by mobile-first, short-format storytelling, with microdramas platforms mirroring today's audience habits regional languages in bite-sized bursts. Targeted incentives for digital-first IP, regional content, and creator skilling will drive sustainable scale. Clear digital monetization rules and easier capital access for platforms like ours will fortify the ecosystem, spark jobs across the creative chain, and position India as the global leader in next-gen entertainment”
"As we approach the Union Budget, there is a clear opportunity to position insurance as core financial infrastructure for Indian businesses, not just a compliance requirement. Extending tax benefits beyond life and health insurance and ensuring parity across tax regimes can meaningfully improve adoption of business covers, especially among MSMEs that remain underinsured despite rising exposure. Rapid digitalisation is also creating new risks, including cyber incidents and AI-led operational failures. Policy encouragement for digital risk covers is therefore essential. Targeted measures to improve insurance access for rural and women-led enterprises can further strengthen economic resilience."
-Tejas Jain, Founder & CEO, BimaKavach.
Sharing a pre-Budget quote from Mr. Parveen Gupta, Director, Ramacivil India offering industry perspective on Infrastructure & Real Estate sectors, aligned with India's housing, infrastructure & India's Vikasit Bharat initiative.
"As India approaches the Union Budget 2026, the infrastructure and EPC sector remains central to the country's long-term economic growth and competitiveness. Continued focus on capital expenditure in urban infrastructure, industrial corridors, and logistics is critical to sustaining momentum across the construction value chain. We believe the upcoming Budget should prioritise timely fund release mechanisms, faster project clearances, and streamlined contract frameworks to improve execution efficiency. Access to long-tenure, low-cost financing for EPC players, especially mid-sized contractors, will be crucial in managing working capital cycles and project risk. Additionally, policy support for adoption of modern construction technologies, prefabrication, and sustainable building practices can help improve productivity and reduce cost overruns. Skill development for on-ground workforce and project management professionals must also be strengthened to meet the scale and complexity of upcoming infrastructure projects. With consistent policy support and execution-focused reforms, India's infrastructure sector can continue to drive employment, regional development, and long-term economic resilience."
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Pre-Budget 2026 Quote from Mr. Dikshu C. Kukreja, Managing Principal of CP Kukreja Architects offering industry perspectives on the Architecture & Built Environment aligned with India's housing, infrastructure, and sustainability goals.
India's urban infrastructure is no longer just a support system for growth; it is a determinant of economic productivity, climate resilience, and social equity. The nearly ₹97,000 crore allocation to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in the 2025–26 Budget last year signals a clear recognition of this shift, strengthening programmes such as PMAY (Urban) and core investments in water, sanitation, and urban services.
Instruments like the Urban Challenge Fund and the Urban Infrastructure Development Fund are particularly important because they move the conversation from isolated projects to integrated city-making, supporting transport-linked development, compact urban form, and viable public-private partnerships.
As sustainability frameworks mature through construction-waste regulations and green building codes, the next step must be fiscal incentives that reward low-carbon construction, adaptive reuse, and material efficiency. Equally critical is embedding professional design and planning expertise at the earliest stages of budgeting and project conception. When spatial strategy and climate thinking are built in from the start, cities perform better, not just economically, but socially and environmentally.
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Pre-Budget 2026 quote from Mr. Manish Bansal, Director, Window Magic, offering industry perspective on the building materials and fenestration sector, aligned with India's housing, infrastructure, and sustainability goals.
"As we approach the Union Budget 2026, the building materials and fenestration sector stands at a critical inflection point, closely linked to India's housing, infrastructure, and urban development ambitions. With a growing emphasis on sustainable construction and energy-efficient buildings, there is a strong opportunity to accelerate the adoption of high-quality, Made-in-India uPVC and aluminum window and door systems.
We believe the upcoming Budget should focus on rationalizing GST structures, incentivizing green and energy-efficient building materials, and improving access to long-term, affordable credit for MSMEs across the construction value chain. Fenestration plays a vital role in enhancing thermal efficiency, indoor comfort, and overall building sustainability. Policy support for energy-rated windows, use of recycled materials, and adoption of advanced fabrication and automation technologies can significantly fast-track this transition.
Equally important is skill development. Structured training, certification, and upskilling of installers and fabricators will help improve quality, safety, and performance standards across the sector. With the right policy framework, Indian fenestration companies can support sustainable urbanization, reduce import dependence, and position India as a globally competitive hub for advanced, environmentally responsible building solutions.".
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Pre-Budget 2026 quote from Mr. Sagar Gupta, Co-Founder & Director, Ekka Electronics, offering industry perspective on manufacturing & electronics sector, aligned with India's growth goals.
"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 priorities rationalization 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."
Pre-Budget 2026 quote from Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, Founder, Chairman & CEO, SS Innovations International, offering industry perspective on healthcare & MedTech sector, aligned with India's Vikasit Bharat initiative.
"As India approaches the Union Budget, the medical technology and surgical robotics sector is at a critical juncture. With strong clinical expertise, engineering capability, and cost advantages, India is well positioned to emerge as a global MedTech manufacturing and innovation hub. Realising this potential requires targeted policy support, including incentives for indigenous R&D, strengthening component-level manufacturing, and faster clinical adoption of advanced technologies such as surgical robotics and AI-driven healthcare.
Rationalising GST on domestically manufactured devices, enhancing R&D tax incentives, improving access to long-term affordable capital, and streamlining regulatory and export pathways will accelerate innovation, scale, and global competitiveness. As a Made-in-India surgical robotics company, SS Innovations believes that the right policy framework can enable India to lead the next wave of affordable, high-quality medical technology innovation globally."
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Mr. Amol Goel, Founder & CEO, Louis Stitch, outlining key expectations from the upcoming Union Budget 2026 for the Indian footwear and leather goods industry. Please feel free to use the quote in full or in part for your pre-Budget coverage.
"The Indian footwear and leather goods industry sits at a crucial inflection point as we head into the Union Budget. With India being the world's second-largest producer of footwear but still under-indexed in value-added exports, the focus must now shift from volume to value, design, and brand-led manufacturing. We believe the upcoming Budget should prioritise rationalisation of GST on premium footwear and leather accessories, as the current inverted duty structure continues to impact margins and consumer pricing. A more uniform tax regime across materials, components, and finished products will significantly improve supply-chain efficiency and compliance.
From a manufacturing standpoint, targeted incentives for modernisation of leather processing, automation in cutting, stitching and finishing, and adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies can help Indian manufacturers improve consistency, reduce wastage, and meet global quality benchmarks. Access to low-cost, long-tenure credit and expanded PLI-style support for the footwear and leather goods sector will further accelerate capacity building.
Skill development remains another critical pillar. The industry employs millions, yet there is an urgent need for structured skilling in pattern engineering, design development, quality control, and sustainable leather processing. Budgetary support for training clusters and collaboration with design institutes can strengthen India's position as a design-led manufacturing hub. As a homegrown brand, Louis Stitch strongly believes that with the right policy support, Indian footwear and leather goods brands can successfully move up the global value chain, reduce import dependence in the premium segment, and establish India as a credible source of high-quality, responsibly made fashion and lifestyle products for the world."
