Union Budget 2026 expectations
As India heads into the Union Budget season 2026, industry leaders are looking beyond headline tax tweaks to signals of how seriously the government intends to back its next phase of growth. Industry leaders from different fields have expressed diverse expectations from the budget, focusing on sustainable growth and innovation across various sectors. They have called on the government with various necessities that could boost the Indian financial sector and in the overall development of the Nation.
1. Dr. Sreedhar Bevara: Author | Entrepreneur | Innovation Adviser
Award-winning leadership author, founder of Aayu AI, adviser to Goa's Innovation Council, and Professor of Practice at BITS Pilani Dubai, Dr Bevara - praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his contributions to youth empowerment and thought leadership - notes that India's growth story is entering a decisive phase, where the demographic dividend will either become a national advantage or a missed opportunity.
With 65% of the population under 35, the Union Budget must move beyond intent and invest in scalable and sustainable #YouthEmpowerment. Preparing this generation is not only about employment, but about building a #SwasthBharat, physically, mentally, and economically. Innovation-led education, preventive healthcare, and support for startups not just to start, but to survive, scale, and solve India-scale challenges are critical. This focus will shape India's resilient future.
2. Bipin Hadvani - Founder of Gopal Snacks
Gopal Snacks - The Budget is an opportunity to strengthen India's food processing and manufacturing ecosystem. Continued support for MSMEs, simplified GST structures and easier access to capital would help companies scale. Incentives for food processing, packaging innovation and supply-chain infrastructure, including warehousing and logistics, can improve competitiveness and reduce costs. Measures that boost rural incomes and consumer spending will directly benefit the packaged food sector. A stable policy framework that encourages investment, innovation and job creation in the FMCG value chain is the need of the hour.Bipinbhai Vithalbhai Hadvani is the Founder, Chairman, and Managing Director of Gopal Snacks, India's largest gathiya manufacturer.
3. Subh Jha CEO & Co-Founder, LegalSalah Global
Subh Jha believes that the Budget 2026 must cut red tape and fuel innovation to sustain our growth momentum. "As CEO and Co-Founder of LegalSalah Global, I urge single-window digital clearances for startups, green tech incentives, and skill programs tied to industry needs. This will unleash entrepreneurs and propel us to a $10T economy. India's Budget 2026 presents a pivotal moment to propel our growth story beyond the 7% mark. In the process of building Legal Salah Global I've seen firsthand how regulatory hurdles and funding gaps stifle innovation. What we need next is bold simplification-streamline compliance for MSMEs through digital single-window clearances, inject targeted incentives for green tech and AI-driven sectors, and double down on skill development via public-private partnerships. This isn't just about spending more; it's about creating an ecosystem where entrepreneurs thrive without red tape. Done right, Budget 2026 could unlock a $10 trillion economy by 2035." Said Subh Jha.
4. Dr. Husain Harianawala, BDS, MDS-Prosthodontics/Author & ITI SCHOLAR- Implantology,
Founder- The Dental Bond
With Budget 2026 approaching, I believe the focus for healthcare must shift towards strengthening advanced education, research, and technology adoption. In specialised disciplines like implantology, clinical excellence is deeply dependent on access to cutting-edge materials, digital dentistry tools, and globally aligned training. Strategic budgetary support for medical research, academic collaborations, and skill-upgradation programs can significantly elevate India's healthcare standards. Reducing the cost burden on advanced dental technology through targeted policy interventions would also help clinicians deliver predictable, long-term outcomes for patients. Additionally, encouraging domestic development of high-quality medical devices and biomaterials can foster self-reliance while maintaining international benchmarks. A budget that invests in knowledge, innovation, and specialised healthcare capabilities will contribute meaningfully to India's long-term growth and global credibility in medicine.
5. Karan Puri, Author/Digital Consultant & Co-founder of Wordloom events
Karan Puri says "As India prepares for Budget 2026, the conversation must move beyond numbers to nurturing the ecosystems that power modern entrepreneurship. From the lens of digital marketing, PR, and events, I see creativity and communication as core drivers of economic momentum. The events industry needs rationalised taxation and smoother compliance frameworks to reduce operational strain and unlock large-scale experiential platforms. Simultaneously, policy support for the digital economy especially incentives for marketing innovation, content creation and brand exports can position India as a global creative powerhouse. Budget reforms today are not merely financial adjustments; they are strategic investments in India's creative capital. Empower this sector and you empower jobs, storytelling, influence and global competitiveness."
6. Shrenik Gandhi, Co-founder and CEO, White Rivers Media
Shrenik Gandhi has built a team of 600+ strong independent digital creative powerhouse in just 14 years as a Co-Founder of WRM. " Advertising is the silent engine of growth in a modern economy. When brands expand, demand rises, jobs multiply, and confidence travels across markets. Today's industry is powered by data, creators, platforms, and technology, not billboards alone. The Union Budget should reward innovation, encourage digital-first storytelling, and simplify compliance for agile media businesses. Lower friction unlocks faster experimentation, smarter investments, and global competitiveness. In uncertain times, advertising stimulates consumption, supports MSMEs, and strengthens trust between brands and consumers. Strategic incentives for martech, content exports, and skilling can future-proof India's creative economy. Cut noise, back the signal. Invest in ideas, and the economy will hear itself grow." says Shrenik Gandhi.
7. Yashi Malviya - Co-Founder of ProBox Media
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, Yashi Malviya, the co-founder of ProBox Media, urges the government to recognize the reach and impact of media and communication industry. She has a vision to witness a strong creative and communications economy as a core driver of India's growth narrative. "In today's digital-first economy, storytelling is strategy," she says. She further cites that she is hopeful that the Union Budget 2026 backs content creators, digital PR firms, and youth-led media startups with targeted incentives, tax benefits, and stronger digital infrastructure. Think big, think us! That's the growth mantra India needs next. ProBox Media, known for its 360-degree PR solutions and author-focused campaigns, believes that empowering content-driven ventures can unlock new economic frontiers. "We work with voices that define our future entrepreneurs, authors, changemakers. Budget 2026 must focus on the ecosystem that amplifies them", Malviya cites.
