Budget 2026 Expectations Live: Focus On EV Mobility, AI Skilling, And More

Surbhi Puri, Director, Green Power International says 2025 was significant in India's journey to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2070 while fostering sustainable and inclusive development. She expects "Further reduction in customs duty on imported machinery would help lower overall project costs and accelerate the deployment of advanced technologies that support the transition to lower carbon emissions across the sector. In addition, establishing a single-window clearance framework for the installation of gensets, by integrating applicable environmental, electrical, and local authority approvals, would significantly reduce project lead times and compliance burdens for investors."

Ambika Saxena, Co-founder, TWH Hospitality says "Demand today is no longer limited to seasonal leisure travel. Being closely involved in the hospitality ecosystem across destinations like Goa and the Tricity region, we're witnessing a clear shift in traveller behaviour, and spans experiential beach stays, wellness-led retreats, and long-stay work-from-anywhere travellers, directly influencing hotel occupancies and stay durations.
We expect Budget 2026 to be a real enabler if it addresses long-standing issues such as high GST on room tariffs, along with easier access to institutional credit for small and mid-sized hospitality operators."

Abhay Mishra, President & CEO, Jindal Realty, says "The upcoming Union Budget 2026 should recognise that India’s housing momentum is now led by Tier-II cities rather than just metros. With better infrastructure and stable prices, these markets can grow faster if the budget boosts urban infrastructure spending, gives tax support to homebuyers, and encourages affordable housing. Sonipat, an emerging NCR hotspot, is benefiting from expressway connectivity, Namo Bharat, and industrial growth, which is driving homebuyers’ demand. If the budget channels more funds and policy attention to cities like Sonipat, it can firmly position growing economic hubs of India as the real driver of the country’s real estate growth."

Dr Ajay Kela, CEO & Board Member, Wadhwani Foundation says that "India is now the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem, but the next phase of high-value jobs and economic growth will depend on deep-tech innovation and how well research translates into enterprises and jobs." He believes that "Budget 2026 should strengthen innovation ecosystems that move ideas from labs to markets, through translation support, including entrepreneurs' training of researchers, applied research, and clear commercialization pathways, so that innovation in AI and emerging technologies drives new ventures, productivity, and high-value employment.”