Archives February 2026

By:- Akshay Chhabra, CMD, 1Point1 Solutions Limited

The Union Budget 2026–27 signals that India is moving beyond AI adoption to making AI a core engine of economic growth. A key highlight is the recognition of data centres as critical national infrastructure—a timely move that underscores the foundational role of digital infrastructure in an AI-led economy.

The proposed tax holiday until 2047 for global cloud service providers operating data centres in India sends a strong signal to long-term investors and hyperscalers. It encourages sustained capital commitment, accelerates large-scale infrastructure build-out, and strengthens India’s position in the global cloud, AI, and digital services value chain.

For AI-first services companies like 1Point1 Solutions, with operations across global markets and expertise in technology-led BPM and CX transformation, these measures create a powerful enabling environment. Incentives for cloud and hyperscale providers not only expand infrastructure capacity but also enhance institutional capability, talent readiness, and ecosystem maturity.

Together, these steps reinforce India’s readiness to lead responsibly in a digital- and intelligence-driven global economy. For companies with deep AI integration and global operations, this Budget highlights a clear reality: AI is no longer a future roadmap—it is today’s operating reality, and India is ready to lead from the front.

Feb 02: Nexus Select Trust, India’s largest retail real estate platform, continues to strengthen its commitment to community wellbeing through its nationwide social initiative, Happyness for HER – a nationwide initiative focused on advancing women’s health, menstrual hygiene, and awareness.

January, observed globally as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, serves as a critical reminder of the importance of preventive healthcare and early intervention for women. In recognition of this, we reached out to over 125,000 women and girls providing accessible sustainable sanitation products to underprivileged and sanitary pad dispensers installed across its malls, conducted over 500 workshops across 15 cities, and distributed over 20 lakhs sanitary napkins,  driving meaningful health awareness and community impact at scale, our aim is to reach out to 300,000 women by 2030.As part of its ongoing outreach, the initiative continues to expand across cities. Workshops have already been conducted in Mangalore and Navi Mumbai at schools adopted by Nexus, reaching over 1000 girls. This will be followed by sessions in Gurgaon, where over 1000 girls will participate in workshops, reinforcing the organisation’s long-term engagement with local communities. The programme will further scale, covering more than 8,000 girls from Government schools in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru, and Delhi. By taking this initiative into schools and unreached communities, Nexus continues to focus on creating measurable impact beyond its business operations. 

Dalip Sehgal, Executive Director and CEO at Nexus Select Trust, said,

“Menstrual health in India continues to be an area where awareness and informed dialogue can be strengthened. This gap often prevents women from seeking information, care, and early diagnosis. India accounts for nearly ~20% of global cervical cancer cases every year, yet hundreds of millions still lack access to basic menstrual products, facilities, and accurate information underscoring the urgent need for awareness and preventive care this gap by providing credible, science-backed information to communities where it is required the most. Happyness for HER is about creating a safe space for dialogue and access, and an improved health ecosystem across the country.”

The Happyness for HER workshops are designed to address critical gaps in menstrual health and hygiene awareness. They also focus on building knowledge around cervical cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), both of which are closely linked to menstrual health. Through structured sessions led by trained educators, participants are encouraged to understand their bodies better and seek timely medical guidance when required.

Feb 02: Nexus Select Trust, India’s largest retail real estate platform, continues to strengthen its commitment to community wellbeing through its nationwide social initiative, Happyness for HER – a nationwide initiative focused on advancing women’s health, menstrual hygiene, and awareness.

January, observed globally as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, serves as a critical reminder of the importance of preventive healthcare and early intervention for women. In recognition of this, we reached out to over 125,000 women and girls providing accessible sustainable sanitation products to underprivileged and sanitary pad dispensers installed across its malls, conducted over 500 workshops across 15 cities, and distributed over 20 lakhs sanitary napkins,  driving meaningful health awareness and community impact at scale, our aim is to reach out to 300,000 women by 2030.As part of its ongoing outreach, the initiative continues to expand across cities. Workshops have already been conducted in Mangalore and Navi Mumbai at schools adopted by Nexus, reaching over 1000 girls. This will be followed by sessions in Gurgaon, where over 1000 girls will participate in workshops, reinforcing the organisation’s long-term engagement with local communities. The programme will further scale, covering more than 8,000 girls from Government schools in Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru, and Delhi. By taking this initiative into schools and unreached communities, Nexus continues to focus on creating measurable impact beyond its business operations. 

Dalip Sehgal, Executive Director and CEO at Nexus Select Trust, said,

“Menstrual health in India continues to be an area where awareness and informed dialogue can be strengthened. This gap often prevents women from seeking information, care, and early diagnosis. India accounts for nearly ~20% of global cervical cancer cases every year, yet hundreds of millions still lack access to basic menstrual products, facilities, and accurate information underscoring the urgent need for awareness and preventive care this gap by providing credible, science-backed information to communities where it is required the most. Happyness for HER is about creating a safe space for dialogue and access, and an improved health ecosystem across the country.”

The Happyness for HER workshops are designed to address critical gaps in menstrual health and hygiene awareness. They also focus on building knowledge around cervical cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), both of which are closely linked to menstrual health. Through structured sessions led by trained educators, participants are encouraged to understand their bodies better and seek timely medical guidance when required.

Shesh Rao Paplikar, Founder & CEO, BHIVE Workspace 

“The coworking and managed office space industry will be well positioned to tap into a multi-million-dollar opportunity from the initiatives announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2026. By providing premium office spaces across cities in an affordable and flexible manner, especially for focused segments such as MSMEs, emerging economic hubs in smaller cities, and the revival of over 200 legacy industrial sectors, the shared workspace industry will become a key ally in driving this transformation.”

JSW MG Motor India has released the official teaser of India’s first D+ SUV – MG MAJESTOR scheduled for its grand unveil on 12^th February. The MG MAJESTOR is set to establish new benchmarks in design and performance.

With its longest, widest, and tallest dimensions, the MG MAJESTOR will redefine the regular D segment and will mark its presence in the new D+ Segment. Designed to deliver unstoppable performance across urban and rugged terrains, it redefines excellence in SUV capability.

The teaser showcases the SUV’s commanding design language, highlighted by the Majestic Matrix Combination Grille, complemented by sharp Falcon-type Daytime Running Lamps and contemporary split-style headlamps, lending it a bold road presence.

Stay tuned as the MG MAJESTOR makes its majestic debut on 12^th February.Post Copy for Influencers:
1. Majestic by design. Massive by presence. A new force is arriving.
The MG MAJESTOR is set to set new benchmarks in the D+ SUV segment with commanding presence, bold design, and unmatched performance. Unveiling on 12th February 2026.
2. Bigger. Bolder. More Majestic.
Introducing the MG MAJESTOR — India’s first D+ segment SUV, built to dominate city streets and conquer every terrain in style. Stay tuned for the grand unveil on 12th February 2026.

Mr. C.S. Vigneshwar, President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA)

“The Union Budget 2026-27 presents a robust roadmap for the various sectors transition toward a sustainable and technologically advanced future. We particularly welcome the governments commitment to the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem by extending basic customs duty exemptions for capital goods used in manufacturing Lithium-Ion Cells,. This, combined with the establishment of Rare Earth Corridors in mineral-rich states to support permanent magnet manufacturing, will significantly bolster domestic EV production and affordability.

The push for green mobility is further strengthened by the provision of 4,000 e-buses for the North-East and Purvodaya regions, and the exclusion of biogas value from Central Excise duty on blended CNG,. These measures, alongside the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, will help stabilize the supply chain for modern vehicles.

For our dealer community, many of whom are MSMEs, the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund and the mandating of TReDS for settlement are pivotal steps toward improving liquidity and growth,. Additionally, the Income Tax exemption for interest awarded by Motor Accident Claims Tribunals (MACT) is a welcome relief for individual vehicle owners and victims,. Overall, this budget balances industrial scaling with consumer-centric tax reforms.”

Nikhil Barshikar, Founder & CEO of Imarticus Learning and Chairman of the Advisory Council at Imarticus School of Finance & Business

“The Union Budget 2026–27 marks a shift from reactive skilling to proactive human capital development through the new ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ (E2E) framework.

A key feature is the institutionalisation of a ‘Corporate Mitra’ cadre—accredited para-professionals trained via short-term, modular courses designed by premier bodies like ICAI, ICSI, and ICMAI. By deploying these specialists in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, the government addresses the ‘compliance-capability gap’ that often limits MSME growth.

This initiative is not just an educational reform; it is a strategic economic move. By linking equity support through the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund with targeted professional guidance, it ensures the workforce remains resilient to AI-driven disruptions while positioning India to capture 10% of the global services market by 2047.”

Mr. Shri Mahavir Goel, Chairman, Venkateshwar International School

“The Budget adopts a system-level approach to strengthening the education sector. It prioritises stronger school foundations through improved digital access, regional-language learning, and greater exposure to science and innovation. In higher education, the focus shifts towards advanced research, artificial intelligence, medical and professional training, and closer engagement with industry. By bringing schools, colleges and careers into closer alignment, the Budget positions education as a practical, outcome-driven system equipped to support India’s evolving economic and workforce needs.”

By:- Mr. Satya Yeruva, Co-Founder & CEO of FinStackk

It is a positive step that the Union Budget has enhanced the safe harbour threshold for IT services to Rs 2,000 crore from Rs 300 crore. Bringing all IT companies under a single, uniform safe harbour category will simplify compliance, reduce uncertainty, and make tax obligations far more predictable. This change benefits not just small and mid-sized companies, but larger firms as well, lowering the risk of litigation and enabling them to expand globally with confidence. The allocation of Rs 10,000 crore as a growth fund for startups and MSMEs is equally encouraging, as it provides the capital and support needed to scale their operations, innovate, and contribute to India’s growing digital economy. Measures like these reinforce India as a stable and attractive base for technology-driven businesses while fostering entrepreneurship and long-term growth.

By:- Mr. Rohit Mahajan, Founder and Managing Partner, plutos ONE

The Union Budget 2026 is a decisive step in India’s journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, with a strong, execution-led focus on SMEs, MSMEs, skill development, and travel-driven demand creation. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has clearly shifted the narrative from short-term relief to long-term competitiveness and scale. The announcement of a ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund is a landmark move, aimed at building tariff-resilient, export-ready enterprises rather than subsidy-dependent businesses. This will enable high-potential MSMEs to invest in technology, productivity enhancement, and global market access—key pillars for India’s manufacturing and export ambitions.

Equally transformative is the integration of GeM with TReDS and the move to make TReDS receivables tradable through asset-backed securities. This structural reform directly addresses the long-standing working capital challenges of MSMEs by converting invoices and receivables into bankable, market-linked assets, thereby lowering the cost of capital and improving liquidity.

In this context, Plutos ONE is actively working with Bharat Connect to enable Bharat Connect for Business, focused on invoice-based lending solutions for MSMEs and SMEs. By leveraging digital rails and receivables-based financing, such initiatives align seamlessly with the Budget’s vision of formalisation, credit deepening, and sustainable growth. Overall, Budget 2026 lays a strong foundation for self-reliance, exports, and inclusive economic expansion.

By:- Mr. Mukesh Pandey, Director of Rupyaa Paisa

The proposal to revive 2,000 industry clusters alongside the creation of a ₹10,000 crore MSME growth fund is a strong signal of the government’s intent to strengthen India’s entrepreneurial backbone. Industry clusters play a critical role in improving productivity, enabling shared infrastructure, and fostering local employment, while dedicated growth capital can help MSMEs scale operations and adopt technology. This combined approach addresses both structural and financial challenges faced by small businesses. If implemented effectively, the initiative can enhance competitiveness, formalisation, and credit access for MSMEs, while driving sustainable economic growth and supporting India’s broader manufacturing and employment objectives.