Archives February 2026

Dr. K Paul Thomas, MD & CEO, ESAF Small Finance Bank

“This is a growth-oriented and inclusive Budget that places farmers, rural India, and youth at the centre of the development agenda, while maintaining fiscal prudence and macroeconomic stability. The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, covering 100 districts and benefiting nearly 1.7 crore farmers, along with the enhancement of KCC limits from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh, will significantly strengthen rural credit access and improve productivity across the agricultural value chain.

The proposal to establish SHE-Marts (Self-Help Entrepreneur Marts) and at least one girls’ hostel in every district, alongside support for women-led FPOs, will expand market access and create greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs. The scheme supporting 5 lakh first-time women, SC, and ST entrepreneurs with loans up to ₹2 crore, together with the expanded MSME credit guarantee unlocking ₹1.5 lakh crore, will accelerate grassroots entrepreneurship, strengthen small businesses, and drive job creation across the country.

The proposed High-Level Committee on Banking for Viksit Bharat will further reinforce the financial sector, enabling banks to support agriculture, MSMEs, and infrastructure-led growth. Emphasis on AI, renewed focus on education, and simplification of tax compliance are other notable highlights. In short, the Budget achieves a balanced approach—leveraging technology while respecting traditional sectors—to drive inclusive and sustainable growth.”

Manas Pal, Co-Founder, PedalStart

“The 2026 Budget marks a pivotal moment for India’s startup ecosystem, it’s not just about yearly relief, it’s about building lasting infrastructure, policy stability, and capital availability that founders need to transition from building incremental apps to creating foundational, globally competitive technology companies. This Budget’s focus on expanding digital and data infrastructure, strengthening funding channels, and enabling AI and deep-tech innovation lays a more predictable and strategic foundation for startups to scale, attract investment, and drive global impact”.

Inderjit Makkar, Founder & CEO, Factacy AI

“Budget 2026 has officially turned AI into a national utility for Viksit Bharat. The ₹1 lakh crore DeepTech fund and National Compute Credits solve the infrastructure hurdle, while the ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ (EEE) committee ensures AI drives massive job generation. For Factacy, this validates our AIaaS mission: leveraging sovereign intelligence to help India capture its goal of a 10% global share in services exports by 2047”.

Anup Agarwal, Co-founder, Kiwi

The ₹2,000 crore incentive allocation for UPI and RuPay in Budget 2026 reinforces the importance of a sustainable digital payments ecosystem. As UPI continues to scale across transactions and use cases, the role of NPCI in maintaining interoperability, reliability, and low-cost access remains central. Sustained incentives are critical to preserving this affordability while enabling responsible innovation across the ecosystem. At Kiwi, we see this as a strong foundation for layering transparent and responsible credit on top of trusted payment rails to improve access and affordability for everyday consumption.

Vikas Tarachandani, Co-founder, SURE

“The Budget reinforces confidence in India’s financial ecosystem by prioritising stability, reform continuity and sector preparedness for long-term growth. The focus on improving credit quality and expanding financial inclusion strengthens the foundation for more disciplined borrowing and efficient capital allocation.”

Sundeep Mohindru, Founder & Promoter, M1xchange

“The Budget’s decisive push to create CHAMPION SMEs by giving equity support and by anchoring liquidity access through the TReDS ecosystem marks a structural shift in how working capital flows to MSMEs. By positioning TReDS as the settlement platform for liquidity support for MSMEs for their supplies to CPSEs, the government encourages wider participation in invoice discounting. This re-establishes the value add TReDS is making towards solving the delayed payment challenge for MSMEs. Credit guarantee support on Invoice discounting on TReDS and the integration of GeM with TReDS will enable quicker and more affordable financing for suppliers. Treating TReDS receivables as asset backed securities will deepen liquidity multifold and enhance the secondary market expansion for invoices discounted . Equally critical is the creation of corporate mitras through professional institutions, which will strengthen affordable compliance support in Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. Together, these measures reinforce MSMEs as India’s engine of growth.”

Pushkar Mukewar, Founder and CEO, Drip Capital

“The Budget’s measures to support seafood exports, including increased duty-free input limits, extended export timelines, and duty-free fish catch in the EEZ and on the High Seas, will significantly ease cost and working-capital pressures for Indian exporters. These steps create new avenues to scale operations, manage cash flows more predictably, and fully harness the economic value of marine resources.”

Mr. Girish Aggarwal, Managing Director, APM Terminals Pipavav

“Budget 2026 reassures the government’s continued focus on infrastructure-led growth and the importance of logistics as a key enabler of India’s trade competitiveness. At a time of global uncertainty, the record public capital expenditure of INR12.2 lakh crore and the emphasis on integrated connectivity through freight corridors, coastal shipping, inland waterways, and port-led development provide a stable and confidence-building signal for the sector.

Focused initiatives such as the Dankuni–Surat Dedicated Freight Corridor and the operationalisation of new national waterways strengthen multimodal connectivity, while investments in ship-repair ecosystems and high-speed rail corridors reflect a forward-looking approach to long-term infrastructure development.

The Finance Minister’s emphasis on keeping the ‘Reform Express’ firmly on track is clearly visible in these initiatives, as well as in the INR10,000 crore allocation for container manufacturing and the focus on sustainable cargo movement. From an industry perspective, these measures will significantly improve connectivity, reduce transit times, lower logistics costs, and enable Indian ports to operate with greater efficiency, reliability, and scale. The Budget’s focus on digitised, integrated customs processes and faster cargo clearances is a meaningful step towards improving ease of doing business. The expansion of AI-enabled, non-intrusive scanning across major ports will directly support faster cargo movement and lower transaction friction, translating into improved reliability and efficiency across the logistics chain for ports and trade.

At APM Terminals Pipavav, we see this as an opportunity to continue working closely with the government and stakeholders to support India’s evolving logistics and maritime ecosystem and contribute to India’s long-term economic growth.”

New Delhi, Feb 01: The Union Budget 2026 has been widely welcomed by India’s healthcare industry for its strategic emphasis on long-term preparedness, research, emergency care, and integrated healthcare systems. Industry leaders highlight that the measures announced in the Budget position India as a global hub for advanced, affordable, and holistic healthcare.

Dr. (Prof.) Purshotam Lal, Chairman, Metro Group of Hospitals, said,

“The ₹10,000 crore commitment to establish a national Biopharma Hub and strengthen non-communicable disease control is both timely and visionary. The proposal to set up trauma centres in every district hospital will enhance emergency response, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas. The creation of 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites bridges the gap between innovation and patient access, while regulatory strengthening enhances India’s credibility in global healthcare.”

Echoing this view, Mr. Abhishek Kapoor, CEO, Regency Healthcare, stated,

“Budget 2026 builds a framework for a more balanced healthcare ecosystem by investing in district-level infrastructure, expanding clinical research networks, and addressing the shortage of allied healthcare professionals. This integrated approach ensures that advanced care and innovation are accessible beyond major urban centres, improving patient outcomes and trust in both public and private healthcare systems.”

Dr. Sharan Shivaraj Patil, Chairman, SPARSH Group of Hospitals, added,

“The establishment of five new Medical Hubs integrated with AYUSH centres marks a major boost for medical tourism and the ‘Heal in India’ initiative. By linking infrastructure, research, and system-wide capacity building, the Budget strengthens India’s position as a global destination for high-quality, affordable treatment.”

Dr. Alok Khullar, Group CEO, RJ Corp Healthcare, commented,

“Budget 2026 demonstrates a strategic vision for healthcare as a driver of economic growth. Expanding clinical trial networks and streamlining regulatory processes will accelerate innovation, improve patient access to advanced therapies, and strengthen India’s global healthcare credibility.”

Mr. Baldev Raj, Founder & CEO, Prius Healthcare, and Vice Chairman, Public Relations Council of India (Delhi Chapter), said,

“The integration of AYUSH centres within five Medical Hubs signals a new era where healthcare is not only a social sector but a pillar of economic growth and global competitiveness. The Budget ensures that infrastructure, skilled manpower, and innovation converge to build a trusted, world-class healthcare system that extends beyond metropolitan centres.”

Key Highlights Welcomed by Industry Leaders:

• ₹10,000 crore for a national Biopharma Hub and non-communicable disease control

• Trauma centres in every district hospital to enhance emergency care

• 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites to accelerate research and innovation

• Integration of AYUSH centres within five new Medical Hubs to boost medical tourism

• Emphasis on allied healthcare professionals and skill development

• Regulatory strengthening to improve compliance, safety, and global credibility

Collectively, these measures are expected to improve healthcare access in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, strengthen India’s research and medical tourism capabilities, and reinforce the country’s position as a global healthcare leader.

From a civil society perspective, the real test will be how effectively these initiatives reach to the people on ground. Meaningful partnerships, strong and strategic implementation, and fair access through community-based and grassroots organizations will be essential to ensure that growth translates into lasting impact. This year’s budget laid out a clear push for economic growth along with the importance of inclusion.”

Santosh Agarwal, CFO & Executive Director, Alpha Corp Development Limited

“The Union Budget 2026 is a definitive blueprint for a ‘New Urban India.’ By scaling public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore, the government isn’t just building roads it’s building the future of our Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. This ₹5,000 crore annual commitment to emerging urban hubs is a masterstroke for balanced growth. For the real estate sector, this translates to more than just connectivity; it enhances ‘liveability’ as a core asset, turning rising cities into primary economic engines. We are moving away from metro-centricity toward a more inclusive, high-growth urban reality.”

Mr. Abhinav Saxena, Founding Partner at Saxenas And Kumar Law Chambers LLP

“The Union Budget 2026 is a definitive step towards de-clogging India’s legal and regulatory arteries. We specifically welcome the proposal to implement a comprehensive New Income Tax Act to replace the six-decade-old law. For the legal fraternity and our corporate clients, this simplification is a long-awaited reform that will drastically reduce interpretation disputes and compliance friction.

Furthermore, the focus on digitizing NCLT tribunals and the introduction of a Customs Amnesty Scheme signal a clear shift towards a Trust-Based governance model. By smoothing out the insolvency process and reducing legacy tax litigation, the Government is allowing firms to focus on value creation rather than courtroom battles. For startups and MSMEs, this Ease of Doing Business is the most valuable capital of all.”

By:- Mr. Hiren Shah, Managing Director, Jyoti Global Plast

We welcomed the Union Budget 2026, highlighting the government’s renewed focus on strengthening the MSME ecosystem and advancing manufacturing-led growth. He noted that the Budget delivers a decisive structural push by improving access to capital, enhancing liquidity, and easing compliance—three long-standing challenges faced by MSMEs.

“The ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund, along with the enhanced allocation to the Self-Reliant India Fund, directly addresses the risk-capital gap for micro and small enterprises. Mandatory participation of CPSEs on TReDS, backed by credit guarantees for invoice discounting and securitisation of TReDS receivables, is a significant reform that will materially improve cash-flow certainty for MSMEs,” he said.

He further added that the integration of GeM with TReDS and the introduction of ‘Corporate Mitras’ to support compliance readiness will enhance transparency and ease of doing business. “Coupled with sustained public capital expenditure and infrastructure development across tier 2 and tier 3 cities, the Budget lays a strong foundation for a scalable, resilient, and competitive MSME sector—enabling Indian manufacturers to emerge as global value-chain leaders.”

By:- Supreme kothari, Partner, Economic Laws Practice.

”Budget 2026 has provided significant relief for Indians planning to travel abroad, with a major proposal to reduce the Tax Collected at Source on overseas tour packages to 2% from the existing slab-based rates of 5% and 20%, with no minimum limit. This move is expected to make international bookings cheaper, simpler, and more accessible, easing the financial burden on travelers while encouraging more Indians to explore foreign destinations. By standardizing the TCS rate and eliminating minimum thresholds, the Budget also simplifies compliance for both travelers and tour operators, potentially boosting outbound tourism and benefiting allied sectors such as airlines, hotels, and travel agencies. Experts believe this reform aligns with the government’s broader goal of promoting ease of travel and transparency in pricing, making international vacations more financially feasible for families, students, and young professionals alike. Overall, the reduction in TCS is a tourism-friendly measure that not only supports travelers but also strengthens India’s global tourism footprint”