Budget day always lands like a surprise product drop: everyone rushes past the headline features, then squints at the fine print to see what actually changes on the factory floor and the store shelf. This year, India’s consumer tech crowd is doing exactly that, decoding the signals on manufacturing, duties, chips, batteries, skilling, AI, and the infrastructure that keeps our apps, creators, and gadgets humming. Here is what the industry is cheering, questioning, and quietly calculating before the next wave of “new price, same phone” stickers shows up.
In This Article
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder & Chairman, Bharti Enterprises
“A bold Budget that combines growth with inclusion. The strong emphasis on skilling, alongside sustained investments in science, innovation, and research are timely & will strengthen domestic capabilities, advancing import substitution in critical sectors.
Bolstering infrastructure and logistics, with a focus on energy efficiency and impetus for the data centre ecosystem, will further reinforce confidence in our burgeoning digital economy.
Bharti remains highly committed to play its part in enabling technology-led growth, expanding financial inclusion, and accelerating future-ready education through Bharti Airtel Foundation to secure India’s talent dividend.”
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Rajesh Sethi, Group Chief Financial Officer, Lava International Ltd
“The Union Budget 2026–27 reflects a continued focus on building India’s manufacturing strength and capabilities, with electronics positioned as a key pillar of economic growth. By fostering a supportive policy environment for domestic production and scale, the Budget lays the groundwork for sustained job creation, stronger industrial capabilities and deeper integration into global value chains. Over time, these measures can contribute meaningfully to India’s economic resilience and long-term competitiveness.”
Atul Soneja, Chief Operating Officer, Tech Mahindra
“The Union Budget 2026 reinforces India’s emergence as a trusted technology and innovation partner. The Government’s recognition of cutting‑edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence as force multipliers for good governance is particularly encouraging. It underscores the pivotal role of the Indian IT industry in delivering innovation, efficiency and scalable digital solutions for the nation. Initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission, National Quantum Mission, National Research Fund and the enhanced R&D ecosystem reflect a bold, inclusive, and future‑ready vision. This alignment of policy, technology and talent will accelerate India’s journey toward becoming a global innovation powerhouse. Additionally, the launch of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will significantly strengthen the country’s technology ecosystem by deepening the integration of hardware and software capabilities, positioning India as a leader in next‑generation digital infrastructure.”
Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India
“The expansion of India Semiconductor Mission through ISM 2.0 in Budget 2026 is a strong step towards building India as a global semiconductor hub. By prioritising the development of full-stack Indian IP and domestic equipment manufacturing with continued policy support, the government is fostering an environment to boost innovation and design, strengthening India’s competitiveness by supporting scale, speed and just-in-time manufacturing.”
Madhav Mani, CEO, Usha International
“This year’s Union Budget sends a strong signal of confidence in India’s economic momentum by reinforcing consumer purchasing power and long-term demand creation. Its emphasis on stable taxation, continued support for disposable incomes, and sustained public capital expenditure provides long-term visibility and confidence for manufacturers to invest in capacity, technology, and distribution, creating a positive environment for discretionary consumption.
For the consumer durables sector, where buying decisions are closely linked to household confidence and accessibility, the focus on rural income support, improved infrastructure, formal credit expansion through digital channels, and a predictable GST framework is expected to unlock upgrade demand, particularly across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.
Importantly, the renewed push towards localisation, electronics and component manufacturing, and domestic value addition will be critical in strengthening supply-chain resilience and improving cost competitiveness for Indian brands. By strengthening MSME participation across the manufacturing value chain, the budget supports a more resilient and inclusive growth model, enabling manufacturers to build globally competitive, energy-efficient products while creating employment and sustainable growth, from component suppliers to last-mile retailers, as demand momentum builds in the coming quarters.”
Arijeet Talapatra, CEO at itel India
“The Union Budget 2026 delivers a clear and reassuring message for brands investing in India’s electronics ecosystem, laying a strong framework towards establishing India as a global hub for manufacturing electronics. The increased outlay of the Electronics Component Manufacturing Scheme will help deepen localisation, strengthen the value chains, and improve the cost competitiveness of consumer electronics goods. The announcement of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 is a welcome move that will bolster India’s journey towards becoming Atmanirbhar – critical for ensuring uninterrupted access to crucial technologies.
The government’s focus on infrastructure development in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities will further drive consumer-led growth by improving access, distribution efficiency, and last-mile connectivity. For itel, these initiatives resonate deeply with our commitment to democratising access to durable, reliable, and affordable technology – empowering millions of consumers across Bharat.”
Tadashi Chiba, MD & CEO, Panasonic India
“The Government’s consistent focus on infrastructure continues to be central to India’s growth agenda. The Union Budget 2026–27, with capital expenditure increased to ₹12.2 lakh crore, reaffirms infrastructure as the backbone of India’s economic expansion. This sustained push will directly support the scaling of Panasonic’s advanced B2B solutions and offerings, which are integral to large-scale infrastructure development. The continued focus on strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem through ECMS and the exemption of basic customs duty on select electrical appliances, including microwaves, is a timely measure that will improve cost efficiencies, encourage domestic value creation, and boost market adoption.
The emphasis on the strategic deployment of cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to improve governance and productivity, will lay a strong foundation for inclusive, sustainable, and people-centric growth in India.”
Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, SPPL, Exclusive brand licensee for Blaupunkt, Kodak and Thomson in India
“Budget 2026-27 provides a strong platform to accelerate the growth of India’s semiconductor and electronics manufacturing ecosystem. If India has to become competitive globally, the focus should shift from announcement to execution. Design-linked incentives, deeper component localisation and semiconductor-linked supply chains are critical to help Indian manufacturers climb up the value chain.”
Rajesh Doshi Director and Co-Founder at Zebronics
The Union Budget 2026 sends a strong and timely signal towards strengthening India’s electronics manufacturing backbone in line with the Viksit Bharat vision. The emphasis on empowering MSMEs, developing rare-earth and component supply corridors, and reinforcing core manufacturing capabilities will be crucial in building resilient domestic ecosystems. Equally important is the government’s intent to simplify taxation and improve ease of doing business, enabling manufacturers to deploy capital more efficiently toward growth and innovation. For Zebronics, this direction aligns seamlessly with our long-term commitment to local manufacturing and our readiness for the next phase of consumer electronics demand in India.
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Sagar Vishnoi, Director, Co-Founder, Future Shift Labs
India already hosts a large share of global semiconductor design engineers, and the Semiconductor 1.0 policy is now pushing local IP creation and product companies. Indian Semiconductor Mission 2.0 to produce materials, design full-stack Indian IP and fortify supply chains will strengthen India’s position in the global race for better tech infrastructure. While challenge remains in the long gestation period and building dense regional clusters, if implemented rapidly with existing PLI & DLI schemes properly, it’ll help in Global South‑oriented chip design for local use‑cases & can help India in building ‘chip diplomacy’ ahead with global south & north nations. To match the global race, India has to invest more towards its semiconductor mission and with an enhancement in outlay to 40,000 cr (almost double) for Semiconductor capacity is a sign of how the government wants to improve the critical frontier technology ecosystem for homegrown chip production across EVs, electronics and defence industries.
Rakesh Kaul, Managing Director of Livpure
“Union Budget 2026 reflects a steady and thoughtful approach to sustaining India’s growth momentum. The increase in capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore signals continuity in infrastructure-led development, which is essential for building resilient industries, stronger supply chains and a healthier consumption environment. The focus on reviving over 2,000 industry clusters, along with the ₹10,000 crore MSME Growth Fund, shows a clear intent to strengthen local manufacturing and enable enterprises at the grassroots to scale with confidence,” he continued.
“The Budget’s emphasis on MSMEs, technology enablement and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence provides that direction. Investments in digital and AI-led capabilities will not only improve productivity but also help Indian companies become more agile and competitive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The continued towards the new tax regime and simpler compliance frameworks further improves ease of doing business and allows organisations to channel energy towards innovation and long-term value creation.”
“For companies like ours, which work closely with Indian households, this Budget creates the confidence to invest responsibly, deepen localisation, adopt advanced technologies and strengthen manufacturing capabilities in India. Aligned with the Viksit Bharat vision, it reinforces the role of industry as a partner in building a future-ready, inclusive economy that improves everyday quality of life .”
Shishir Gupta, Co-founder, CEO of Oakter
The launch of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 marks a decisive shift from assembly scale to technology depth and IP ownership, which is exactly what the electronics sector has been waiting for. Moving into equipment, materials, and full-stack Indian IP creation strengthens the backbone needed for original design manufacturing to thrive at global standards. The increased outlay of ₹40,000 crore for electronics component manufacturing is a strong signal that localisation will now be measured not just in volumes but in capability and value addition. For ODM-led companies, this creates room to design, build, and scale complex products entirely from India while integrating more resilient supply chains. The proposed ₹10,000 crore SME growth fund is equally important as it addresses a chronic gap in growth capital that limits innovation-led manufacturing. If implemented with speed and clarity, these measures can unlock automation, deepen component ecosystems, and help Indian electronics brands compete confidently in global markets as creators rather than contract manufacturers.
Murali Mantravadi, Joint Managing Director, Energy Bots – Flosenso
“Reading the Union Budget 2026, what becomes clear is a steady shift in how technology is being viewed. The push through India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and higher investment in electronic components suggests the government wants India to build deeper capability, not just scale services. That is an important signal. Sustainable advantage comes from owning design, supply chains and execution, not only distribution. The continued emphasis on AI, industry-linked research and creative skills points to an understanding that technology outcomes depend as much on people and process as on policy. The real test now is execution, but the intent feels more structural than symbolic.”
Nakul Kumar, Co-Founder at Cashify
While the Union Budget 2026–27 is largely focused on strengthening India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem, its ripple effects will be equally significant for the recommerce sector. Increased domestic production, better component availability, and improved logistics infrastructure will strengthen the lifecycle of devices, making refurbishment more efficient and scalable. Over time, this will aid in expanding access to high-quality, affordable electronics for consumers and reinforce India’s transition towards a more circular and sustainable digital economy.
Alok Nigam, Managing Director, Brother International (India)
“The Union Budget 2026 strikes a thoughtful balance between growth ambition and on-ground business realities. By simplifying GST, strengthening domestic manufacturing and placing MSMEs at the centre of the growth agenda, the government has addressed some of the most pressing needs of Indian enterprises.
The announcement of a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, along with a clear increase in outlay for electronics and semiconductor-led manufacturing to ₹40,000 crore and the launch of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, sends a strong signal of India’s intent to deepen value addition and build resilient supply chains. The continued focus on electronics components manufacturing, industrial clusters, hi-tech tool rooms and infrastructure-led growth reinforces the long-term commitment to strengthening India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem. These measures will encourage businesses to invest in technology, improve productivity and scale with greater confidence. For MSMEs, which contribute close to 30% of India’s GDP, better access to capital and structured growth support can significantly accelerate modernisation.
For Brother International India, this creates a more conducive environment for the wider adoption of office automation and digital workflow solutions across enterprises and consumers. As India aligns more closely with global markets, the Budget’s emphasis on localisation, technology adoption and ease of doing business positions businesses to compete more efficiently, while enabling us to support them with reliable, productivity-driven solutions.”
Anil Rai Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, Havells India
“We commend and congratulate the Government of India for presenting a progressive and industry-focused Union Budget 2026–27 that strengthens India’s journey toward self-reliance and global competitiveness. The proposed capital expenditure of ₹12.2 lakh crore, alongside measures to mobilise private investment through the Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund, accelerated CPSE real estate monetisation via REITs, and development of dedicated freight corridors with sustainable cargo focus, will accelerate execution across housing, commercial, industrial, and logistics projects.
Key interventions such as the expansion of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme from ₹22,999 crore to ₹40,000 crore, the ₹10,000 crore, five-year initiative to promote domestic container manufacturing, and rationalisation of customs duties to correct inverted structures reflect a decisive push towards localisation and technology-led manufacturing. These measures are expected to drive capacity creation, strengthen supply chains, and enhance India’s competitiveness across critical industrial sectors.
By advancing the ‘Make in India’ agenda through sustained policy support, targeted investments, and focus on industrial competitiveness, this Budget lays a robust foundation for resilient, inclusive, and technology-driven growth across India’s industrial landscape.”
Manish Agarwal, Board Member, GDAI
“The announcement of AVGC content creator labs in schools and colleges is a landmark step toward building India’s next generation of game designers and developers. Over the past few years, GDAI has been closely engaging with government stakeholders to help shape a long-term talent pipeline that starts at the school level and extends through higher education and industry readiness. We strongly welcome this move, which will significantly accelerate the growth of gaming, AVGC-XR, and interactive media careers across the country.”
Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO, Felicity Games:
“The government’s push on AVGC and creative tech education is a strong step forward. Gaming and interactive media are talent-led industries, and building this pipeline early can help India move from being a large consumer market to becoming a global producer of content and IP, driving jobs and long-term economic growth. Over time, this can translate into meaningful jobs, startups, and export-driven growth for the economy.”
Jeet Chandan, Co-Founder, Shortgun Games
“This Budget is a direct policy push for India’s AVGC revolution AVGC Creator Labs across 15,000 schools and 500 colleges is a game-changing talent pipeline. For Shortgun Games, this means faster scaling of XR-led game design and global IP creation. India isn’t just playing games now, India is building the world’s gaming content factory.”
Sanjay Chitkara, Co-CSMO, LG Electronics India Limited.
The Union Budget 2026 reinforces India’s ambition to become a global high-tech manufacturing hub through higher capital investment, Semiconductor Mission 2.0, and expanded support for electronics component manufacturing. Measures such as duty exemptions, MSME funding, and improved infrastructure will strengthen supply chains and enhance industry competitiveness. For companies like
LG Electronics, this creates a stronger ecosystem for localised manufacturing, innovation, and long-term growth. At the same time, tax rationalisation and policies aligned with middle-class needs will boost consumption and job creation, delivering balanced growth for both industry and citizens.
Paresh Vij, Director, U&i
“The Union Budget 2026, presented by Hon’ble Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, reinforces India’s long-term vision of becoming a global electronics manufacturing powerhouse. The expansion of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 with a ₹40,000-crore outlay, along with enhanced support for the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, will significantly strengthen domestic value chains and reduce import dependence. These measures will enable faster innovation, better cost efficiencies, and improved supply-chain resilience for consumer electronics brands. At U&i, we see this as a decisive step towards empowering Indian manufacturers to compete globally while delivering high-quality, affordable products to consumers. The budget provides much-needed policy stability and confidence for sustained investments in manufacturing, technology, and talent.”
Rajeev Singh, Managing Director, BenQ India and South Asia
The Union Budget 2026 makes a clear statement on reimagining education as a direct driver of employability and economic growth. The proposed Education-to-Employment Standing Committee acknowledges the urgent need to align learning with industry demand and the accelerating impact of technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Initiatives such as Content Creator Labs in 15,000 schools and the development of university townships near industry corridors mark an important shift towards hands-on, technology-enabled, and industry-connected learning environments. These measures will encourage creativity, collaboration, and real-world skill development across K-12 and higher education.
Together with continued support for domestic manufacturing and the semiconductor ecosystem, the Budget creates a strong foundation for modern digital classrooms and future-ready campuses. It enables education and enterprise technology providers to play a meaningful role in building skills, improving learning outcomes, and preparing India’s talent base for global competitiveness. It will be good to see how these initiatives take shape in the coming days, and we will support them to the best of our ability.
Ravi Agarwal, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Cellecor
The Union Budget 2026 reflects a steady and constructive approach toward strengthening India’s consumer electronics and technology manufacturing ecosystem. The near doubling of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme outlay from ₹22,919 crore to ₹40,000 crore is a meaningful step toward building a stronger domestic component supply chain. Alongside the expansion of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) 2.0 into a broader, full-stack programme covering materials, equipment, design, and R&D, this signals strong momentum toward positioning India higher on the global electronics value chain.
The parallel focus on employment generation and large-scale skilling in electronics manufacturing and emerging technologies will help create a future-ready workforce across factories, assembly lines, and service ecosystems.
Overall, the Budget creates a supportive environment for consumer electronics brands to invest with confidence. We look forward to contributing to this growth journey through innovation, localisation, and product development.
Pankaj Rana, CEO, Hisense India
The Union Budget 2026 outlines a forward-looking technology roadmap that strengthens India’s position as a global electronics and innovation hub. The sustained focus on semiconductor manufacturing, electronics components, and AI-led innovation reflects a strong policy commitment to building a resilient domestic ecosystem. Initiatives like India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and the enhanced outlay for electronics manufacturing are expected to deepen local value creation and strengthen supply chains. For the consumer electronics industry, this creates a stable, growth-oriented environment that encourages long-term investments, innovation, and localisation.
Aditya Khemka, Founder & Managing Director, CP PLUS
The Union Budget 2026 signals a decisive shift in India’s technology and security journey, with a clear focus on building capability at home. The strengthened push under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 is not only about self-reliance, but about ensuring that the intelligence, computing power, and hardware powering next-generation AI systems are designed and manufactured in India.
The government’s emphasis on artificial intelligence reflects a move from experimentation to real-world, mission-critical deployment. As AI becomes central to public safety, surveillance, and smart infrastructure, this Budget lays the foundation for scalable, secure, and responsible adoption across the country.
For homegrown technology companies, this policy clarity creates long-term confidence to invest locally, innovate for Indian needs, and build globally competitive solutions. It positions India not just as a consumer of advanced technologies, but as a trusted creator of AI-led security and infrastructure solutions aligned with the vision of Make in India
NS Satish, President, Haier Appliances India
“The Union Budget 2026 reflects a strategic step forward for India’s manufacturing ecosystem. The ₹40,000 crore allocation towards electronics components and manufacturing is a landmark announcement that will strengthen the domestic supply chain, accelerate localisation, and enhance India’s competitiveness in the global electronics landscape.
Coupled with the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which opens new avenues for technology collaboration and exports, this Budget reinforces India’s position as an increasingly preferred manufacturing hub. For the consumer durables sector, these measures will drive cost efficiencies, improve affordability, and expand appliance penetration across emerging markets.
At Haier Appliances India, we strongly support the government’s vision and are accelerating our investments in local manufacturing and value addition, contributing to India’s emergence as a world-class hub for consumer durables. The Budget’s emphasis on AI adoption and inclusive growth further aligns with this transformative agenda.”
Manoj Nair, Head Of Applications- Global Delivery Unit, Fujitsu
“The Hon’ble Finance Minister has presented a forward-looking Union Budget that strongly reinforces India’s Viksit Bharat ambition, and conducive policies to make India a global technology hub. There is a huge focus on AI by positioning it as a force multiplier, combined with robust policies to support the growth of data centres. The launch of the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 will accelerate the development of a resilient semiconductor ecosystem, spanning materials, equipment, full-stack IP design, and enhancing supply chains.”
“The move to approve Safe Harbour for IT services through an automated, rule-based mechanism is a significant reform that enhances ease of doing business and provides certainty in taxation for the industry. Equally encouraging is the focus on positioning data centres as critical infrastructure, along with the proposal to extend tax holidays till 2047 for global cloud service providers operating from India.”
“Together, these measures will help in boosting investor confidence, enhance innovation, create long-term growth opportunities for semiconductor and IT services companies, including data centre players, while further strengthening India’s role in the global technology value chain.”
Arjun Bajaj, Director – Videotex.
‘The Budget is a positive step for the consumer electronics industry, with the introduction of ISM 2.0 and a significant increase in the outlay for the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to ₹40,000 crore, along with support for the rare earth permanent magnet ecosystem. These measures are expected to strengthen the sector over the long term. Overall, the Budget’s emphasis on skill development, domestic manufacturing, and infrastructure lays a strong foundation for innovation and long-term competitiveness across the electronics ecosystem”.
Pankaj Jathar, CEO, NIIT Ltd.
“This Budget underscores that India is at a decisive inflexion point where economic growth, inclusion, and global competitiveness will be shaped by how effectively we skill our people across sectors. The emphasis on AI-led national missions, capacity building for nearly 25 crore individuals, and the proposed ‘Education to Employment and Enterprise’ Standing Committee signals a clear intent to align learning with real industry outcomes, especially in services, which can anchor India’s journey towards a Viksit Bharat with a 10% global share by 2047. To truly realise inclusive growth, India must now accelerate large-scale, industry-aligned skilling, integrating AI, emerging technologies, and employability, so every sector and region can participate meaningfully in the nation’s next phase of development.”
Nikita Kumawat, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Brandworks Technologies
“Union Budget 2026 marks a significant change in India’s electronics and semiconductor journey, shifting the focus from capacity creation to long-term capability development. The introduction of the Indian Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and the launch of the Shakti initiative, coupled with an enhanced financial outlay of Rs 40,000 crore, further strengthen the ecosystem and reflect the government’s commitment to building a future-ready ecosystem across equipment, materials, full-stack IP, and resilient supply chains.
The focus on domestic component manufacturing, R&D, and workforce upskilling is a critical step towards strengthening India’s position in the global electronics value chain. These measures will reduce import dependence and create the foundation for innovation-led, sustainable growth.
India’s next phase of progress will be driven by companies that integrate design, engineering, and advanced manufacturing at scale, for which Budget 2026 lays the groundwork. This transition reinforces India’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for electronics and semiconductor innovation.”
Arjun Nair, Co-founder, Great Learning
The Indian Union Budget 2026–27 is a decisive step in repositioning education as a core economic and workforce engine for India. It is encouraging to see a clear emphasis on employability, AI integration, and industry-aligned skills, which reflects a strong understanding of how talent and careers are evolving. According to me, linking education more directly with jobs, entrepreneurship, and services-led growth is the right direction. The push to embed AI across learning, expand higher-education capacity around industrial corridors, and encourage modular, industry-designed programmes will meaningfully strengthen India’s talent pipeline.
For the edtech sector, this creates a strong opportunity to move beyond content and play a deeper role in shaping learning outcomes. AI, industry partnerships, and closer collaboration with institutions will be key for edtechs to deliver more relevant, job-ready learning at scale.
Rahul Agarwalla, Managing Partner, SenseAI
“The Union Budget 2026–27 reflects a measured but important recognition of artificial intelligence as a long-term driver of productivity and inclusion. By anchoring AI within national research missions and applied use cases such as agriculture and assistive technologies, the government signals a shift toward embedding intelligence into real-world systems rather than limiting it to experimentation.
The emphasis on capacity building and mission-led innovation reinforces the importance of strengthening talent, institutions and responsible AI practices alongside technological progress. The 20-year tax holiday for data centres stands out as a key step that will encourage long-term investment and make India a preferred location for digital and AI infrastructure. Together, these measures will work as a force to strengthen India’s ability towards building scalable AI solutions for domestic and global markets.”
Varun Gupta, Co-Founder, GOBOULT
“Budget 2026–27 places attention on how electronics are built, not just how much is produced. The expansion of the Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme to ₹40,000 crore and the rollout of India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 strengthen the component layer of the ecosystem.
For the audio industry, components shape performance, power efficiency and product life, and they also influence cost stability. As component manufacturing develops locally, pricing is unlikely to fall immediately, but volatility will reduce. Over time, brands gain the ability to hold price points steady while improving quality and durability.
Alongside public capital expenditure of ₹12.2 lakh crore, this approach supports long-term manufacturing capacity. If executed consistently, it allows the industry to move beyond assembly volume toward building better products that deliver sustained value and wider access for users across the country.”
Olivier Loison, Managing Director Alstom India
“We welcome this progressive Union Budget 2026 that prioritises national development and growth. The focus on improving India’s rail infrastructure with the announcement of seven new high-speed rail corridors will significantly boost India’s passenger mobility, strengthening the overall economic ecosystem. Furthermore, infrastructure development in Tier 2/3 cities and tourism initiatives will enhance national railway and urban mobility. Railways will be a key driver for national development given the noteworthy outlay of ₹ 2,78,030 crores in FY 2026–27. As the trusted partner in India’s rail revolution, we are well-placed to address the government’s domestic and export ambitions while bringing efficient and safe rail products and solutions, contributing to the Viksit Bharat vision. This provides the desired impetus for more modernisation in manufacturing, skilling, and overall community impact.”
Harshavardhan Chitale, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Hero MotoCorp.
“The Union Budget 2026 presents a balanced and forward-looking roadmap, and we welcome the strong emphasis on continuity and predictability in fiscal and industrial policy.
Infrastructure investments, particularly in highways, rural roads and urban mobility, will enhance logistics efficiency and strengthen supply-chain resilience. A sharper focus on localisation will further reinforce domestic manufacturing while improving global competitiveness.
We also welcome the Union Budget’s continued support for the electric mobility ecosystem, including charging infrastructure, duty relief for battery manufacturing, and a focus on building rare earth mineral corridors. Together, these measures can accelerate the transition to clean mobility and make sustainable transportation a mainstream choice for millions of Indians.
Overall, this Budget charts a confident pathway for industrial expansion, innovation and sustainability, strengthening business sentiment while delivering long-term value for consumers and the economy alike.”
Piyush Jha, Group Vice President & Head – APAC at GlobalLogic.
“This Union Budget 2026–27 is a strong signal of policy confidence, positioning technology as the backbone of a Viksit Bharat. At a time when global macro headwinds are reshaping tech spending, the Budget brings much-needed certainty for India’s IT services and GCC ecosystem. The unified IT services safe harbour framework with a predictable 15.5% margin, along with faster closure of advance pricing agreements, meaningfully strengthens ease of doing business and reinforces India’s competitiveness as a global delivery and engineering hub.
Just as importantly, the Budget makes a clear long-term bet on AI, through AI-led governance and enabling digital infrastructure, while recognising that India’s next growth curve will be won on talent. What is more encouraging is our government’s balanced approach, combining regulatory simplicity with long-term bets on AI-led governance, emerging technologies like quantum computing, and stronger participation of women in STEM. Put together, this is a decisive step towards making India not just a scale destination, but a high-value, trusted technology partner to the world.”
Ankit Mehta – CEO of ideaForge Technology Pvt. Ltd
“We congratulate the Finance Minister for presenting a pragmatic Budget that continues to prioritise Defence capital outlay while strengthening India’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem, electronics base, and semiconductor capabilities. Proposed measures such as the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, the expanded Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme, and support for advanced technology R&D signal a strong focus on building strategic supply chains and indigenous high-tech capability.
With Defence capital expenditure in FY27 rising to ₹2.19 Lakh Crore, almost 22% higher than last year, the government has signalled a strong commitment to modernisation and long-term capability building. This provides clear guidance for frontier technologies and positions ideaForge to continue leading in indigenous UAVs, electronic warfare systems, and advanced aerial platforms, while contributing to India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat and a forward-moving Bharat.”
Vineet Kumar, Founder and Global President, CyberPeace
“Union Budget 2026–27 makes it clear that India’s growth ambitions are now inseparable from its digital and security foundations. With public capex rising to INR 12.2 lakh crore and a long-horizon tax holiday till 2047 for global cloud service providers operating data centres in India, the Budget sends a strong signal that India wants to build at scale across AI, cloud, deep-tech, and future-ready infrastructure. This is not just about steel and cement; it is a mandate for software, data platforms, cybersecurity, and intelligence layers. As India sustains 7% growth while expanding digital public services to millions, cybersecurity emerges not as a technical afterthought, but as a core economic and national capability that must grow alongside scale and innovation.”
Heng Lee, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Asia-Pacific and Japan at Kaspersky
“The Government of India’s sustained investments in digital public infrastructure and cybercrime response have helped strengthen the country’s overall cybersecurity resilience. Over the years, coordinated efforts to improve incident reporting, inter-agency cooperation, and national-level monitoring have contributed to a more structured response to cyber risks affecting citizens and organizations alike.
At the same time, India’s expanding digital footprint continues to attract cybercriminal activity. According to our Threat Intelligence report, Indian users remain among the most targeted globally by web-based attacks, with phishing-led social engineering and malware delivery continuing to dominate the threat landscape.
Looking ahead to Budget 2026, addressing structural issues such as the cybersecurity skills gap, rising ransomware activity, and the protection of critical infrastructure will require sustained and targeted investment. As digital transformation remains a key driver of economic growth and service delivery in India, prioritizing intelligence-led security, advanced threat detection, and workforce development will be essential.”
