Union Budget 2026: Pre-Budget Expectations

“India’s Union Budget 2026 must sustain the infrastructure-led growth trajectory with a capex outlay near ₹12 lakh crore, reinforcing roads, railways and logistics to unlock economic multipliers. Continued priority for marquee programmes — including Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase 2.0 to expand national corridors and boost freight efficiency — is essential for connectivity and jobs. A strategic focus on the energy transition is critical: India’s target of 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070 requires enhanced fiscal incentives for renewables, green hydrogen, storage and grid modernisation to attract capital at scale. The Budget should also accelerate the launch of National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP 2.0) with an ambitious ₹10 lakh crore target over FY26-30, unlocking brownfield asset value to fund new projects. These measures will drive private investment, reduce logistics costs and position India as a global clean-energy and infrastructure hub.”
Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director & Global Head, Consulting, Crisil Intelligence 

“Over the last few Budgets, the government has laid a strong foundation for commercial real estate through infrastructure investment, urban development programs, and capital-market reforms such as REITs and asset monetisation. As we look to Union Budget 2026–27, the next phase should focus on easing project-level financing, enabling structured private credit, and providing clearer tax and regulatory frameworks for alternative investment platforms. These measures can unlock long-term capital, support office expansion beyond core metros, and strengthen real estate’s role in employment and urban growth.”
Sudarshan Lodha, Co-founder & CEO, Strata

"The F&B startup market is seen evolving with innovation in alternative proteins, functional nutrition, digitization, and e-commerce. India today is uniquely positioned to build not just for its own consumers, but for the global market. From our position as a startup company focusing on healthy snacks, we see a considerable transition in the Indian food & beverage marketplace; consumers are now making food choices based on health rather than just taste.  Modern retail, e-commerce, and quick commerce have opened powerful new channels, allowing young brands to reach consumers faster and more transparently than ever before. With advancements in food science and supply chain tech, Indian startups are now building scalable, clean-label products that meet global standards while staying rooted in local preferences. At Prov Foods, we truly believe that the demand for healthy snacking is becoming mainstream and is an everyday part of consumers' lives today. Sustainable innovation in better-for-you products will drive growth within India and that there is no limit to what we can offer as a result.”
Deepak Agrawal, Co-founder and CBO, Proventus Agrocom Limited (ProV)