The Union Budget 2026-27, scheduled for presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2026, comes at a time when India is balancing strong domestic growth with global trade uncertainties. Industry leaders across IT/Global Capability Centers, infrastructure, wires & cables, fintech, industrial safety, and real estate have shared their pre-budget expectations, calling for tax simplification, sustained capital expenditure, sector-specific incentives, worker safety integration, housing affordability measures, and policies that strengthen resilience in an unpredictable world.
Below are the key pre-budget expectations from leading voices:
IT & Global Capability Centers Push for Tax Stability, AI Support & IP Incentives
Mr. Sandeep Kumar Jain, Managing Director, CDK Global, emphasized: “A stable, innovation-friendly tax regime, stronger support for AI, cloud infrastructure and data centers, and clarity on R&D incentives will enable global firms like ours to deepen engineering, product development, and shared-services capabilities from India. This is especially critical as we scale talent pools in tier-2 cities and invest in cutting-edge areas like generative AI, cybersecurity, and automotive tech. Incentives for IP creation, transfer-pricing certainty and export promotion for digital services would further strengthen India’s position as the world’s engineering and innovation back-office.
Widening the tax base and using technology to strengthen compliance would be critical to lower the burden on the already compliant. Tax administration would benefit from simplification, with fewer filings, less overlap, and faster closures. Moving to a single tax regime by phasing out the old structure would reduce complexity and administrative effort. For corporates, greater certainty on transfer pricing, faster dispute resolution, stable indirect tax policies, and incentives linked to IP creation and high-value exports would further strengthen India’s position as a preferred global business destination. Ultimately, these measures will create high-quality jobs, boost skill development, and position Indian GCCs as true global innovation engines. We are optimistic that Budget 2026 will deliver the policy clarity and fiscal support needed to accelerate this transformation.”
Infrastructure Sector Seeks Continued High Capex with Water & Sustainability Focus
Mr. Sunil Nair, CEO, Ramky Infrastructure Ltd., highlighted: “India’s infrastructure journey has gained remarkable momentum, and what’s commendable is the government’s steadfast commitment demonstrated in the Union Budget 2025-26. Key initiatives included a massive ₹11.21 lakh crore capex allocation, fueling projects like the ₹1 trillion Urban Challenge Fund for cities as growth hubs and water sanitation, alongside the second Asset Monetisation Plan targeting ₹10 trillion for new builds. Outcomes have been tangible: accelerated progress on Bharatmala highways, 1,000+ railway station modernisations, and metro expansions, reducing logistics costs and boosting urban connectivity—evident in our own ₹215 crore sewage contracts in Hyderabad.
For Budget 2026, the sector anticipates sustained capex at ₹12-13 lakh crore with sharper focus on water infrastructure, including viability gap funding for PPPs in 7,000 MLD sewage treatment under Namami Gange and circular reuse mandates across urban areas. Enhanced support for HAM models in industrial parks, green bonds for STPs, and digital twins for O&M will accelerate nationwide execution. These steps will drive resilient growth, aligning with Viksit Bharat@2047 through sustainable urban transformation.”
Wires & Cables Industry Expects Infrastructure & Real Estate Momentum
Mr. Mahesh Vishwanathan, Deputy CEO & CFO, Finolex Cables Ltd., noted: “As the industry looks toward India’s Budget 2026, the wire and cable sector expects the government to deploy multiple growth-enabling levers to sustain momentum. A key expectation is a continued increase in capital expenditure on infrastructure development, including railways, airports, seaports, metro and urban utilities (power and communication), which directly drives demand for wires and cables. The industry also sees significant opportunity in higher spending on real estate and housing, supported by reforms in land acquisition processes and easier access to financing to create stronger consumer pull. By combining infrastructure expansion with targeted incentives for AI-led manufacturing and reinforcing the ‘Make in India’ vision, Budget 2026 can offer the stability and policy clarity needed for the manufacturing ecosystem to achieve long-term market leadership and economic resilience.”
Fintech Sector Calls for Balanced Execution & Household Financial Protection
Kunal Varma, Co-Founder and CEO, Freo, observed: “Over the past year, several priorities highlighted in the previous budget – easier access to credit for small businesses, stronger domestic manufacturing, lower cost pressures, and reduced reliance on imported energy have started to show results. These steps have helped steady the financial system and supported local businesses. At the same time, the global environment has become more unpredictable, with changes in trade, pressure on exports, and rapid shifts in new technologies and industries. This makes it clear that long-term reforms need to be backed by timely support that helps people and businesses manage uncertainty.
Looking ahead, the expectation from the upcoming budget is a stronger focus on execution and balance. Along with smoother access to credit and continued investment in future-facing sectors and essential resources, there is also a need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve financial protection against medical costs. In uncertain times, households also look for stability in how they save and invest. A budget that supports today’s needs while preparing for the future can help keep growth broad-based and sustainable.”
Industrial Safety Equipment Leaders Demand GST Rationalization & ‘Safe in India’ Focus
Hemant Sapra, President, Global Sales & Marketing, KARAM Safety, stated: “As India progresses toward its vision of a $5 trillion economy and a global manufacturing hub, the Union Budget 2026 presents a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the industrial workforce that anchors this growth. At KARAM Safety, we believe that ‘Make in India’ must inherently mean ‘Safe in India.’
We expect the upcoming budget to prioritize the integration of safety standards within the flourishing infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. A key expectation is the rationalization of GST on life-saving industrial safety equipment. Currently, certain critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) remains in higher tax brackets. Aligning these to a uniform 5% GST would not only lower operational costs for MSMEs but also encourage the nationwide adoption of high-quality, certified safety gear.
Furthermore, we look forward to policies that specifically incentivize the depth of local value addition… A dedicated framework, similar to the PLI schemes in other sectors, would reward this commitment to vertical integration… Lastly, as the government continues its record-breaking capital expenditure on railways, highways, and green energy, we advocate for stricter budgetary allocations for safety training and audits in public-private partnership (PPP) projects. By incentivizing ‘Zero Harm’ workplaces through tax benefits or weighted deductions, the government can ensure that India’s infrastructure leap is built on a foundation of uncompromising safety and dignity for every worker.”
Real Estate Sector Seeks GST Input Credit Restoration & Demand Stimulation
Mr. Rohit Gera, Managing Director, Gera Developments, urged: “While GST does not formally fall within the Union Budget, we would like to see a clear policy signal from the Hon’ble Finance Minister that input tax credit (GST set-off) for residential construction will be reinstated. This will materially improve project viability, reduce embedded costs, and ultimately benefit homebuyers through more efficient pricing.
Additionally, given the heightened risks to global trade, we expect the Budget to place strong emphasis on stimulating domestic demand while simultaneously enhancing India’s export competitiveness. Measures that lower cost of capital, improve ease of doing business, and support manufacturing and services exports will be critical to sustaining growth momentum in an uncertain global environment.”
As Union Budget 2026 approaches, these expectations reflect a collective call for fiscal prudence, policy stability, accelerated infrastructure spending, innovation support, safety-first growth, and household resilience. Announcements in these areas could significantly shape investment, employment, and India’s global competitiveness in the coming years.
Last Updated on: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 10:31 pm by Indian News Bulletin Team | Published by: Indian News Bulletin Team on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 10:31 pm | News Categories: News
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