Industry captains are calling for the Union Budget 2026 to encourage regulatory clarity, innovation, and ease of compliance in the following key sectors. These include facilitating retail policy, green investments, e-mobility investments, AI for good, and regulatory frameworks for digital assets.
As India prepares for the upcoming Union Budget of 2026, the business community is clamoring for a planned approach in the budget that aims for growth, ease of compliance, and innovation. Industry leaders in retail, the green energy sector, AI, and digital assets are united in presenting a joint agenda that will help shape the country’s economy for the next decade.
Retail Sector Reforms:
“There should be an overall Retail Policy that could help improve the ease of doing business,” said Shivendra Nigam, CFO, Cantabil. He pointed out that the retail industry contributes close to 10% to the Indian GDP and touches the lives of 1.5 billion people.
CEO of Genefied, Ayush Jhawar’s mention of the coming together of retail and technology in the use of artificial intelligence-based loyalty systems and real-time commodity chain management was significant. Tax benefits and research budgets were pointed out as vital factors in helping the brand use the power of data effectively and expand engagement with customers.
Fast-Tracking Green Power and E-Mobility:
Faruk G. Patel, the founder of KP Group, pointed out the “huge growth in the Indian renewable sector, with close to 50 GW capacity added in the year 2025, which brought the non-fossil fuel installed capacity beyond the 262-263 GW mark and closer to the target of 500 GW by the year 2030.”
Anurag Choudhary, the CMD of Himadri Specialty Chemicals, emphasized the importance of further R&D investments in e-mobility, especially for new material research and energy storage. Referring to the success of FAME and PLI schemes, Choudhary appeared to be asserting that the strategic disbursement of funds could help the sector grow.
Fostering AI and Digital Infrastructure:
Sanjay Sehgal, the Founder and CEO of Aziro, emphasized the need for AI research and development in the country to foster inclusive growth. He advocated for the need to invest in R&D, infrastructure, and skill development, especially for MSMEs and the development of ethical AI practices.
Enhancing Capital Markets and Housing:
Manan Lahoty, a partner with Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, suggested modifications in the Indian Depository Receipt system that could lure overseas companies to issue IDsRs. This move, he said, would help launch new investment instruments and reinforce India’s claim to be a global financial hub.
For the real estate industry, Samarth Setia, Founder of Rezio.ai, sought measures to minimize delays and hidden costs in approvals. Time-bound single-window approvals and stamp duty rationalization can help reduce the “time tax” component in the cost of housing, apart from supporting mid-income segment buyers.
Investing in Education, Healthcare, and Resilience:
Gitesh Gupta, the CEO of Aimlay, stressed the importance of reforms and research in higher education, which resonates with the National Education Policy 2020. Research infrastructure and scholarship expenditure are needed to make India a hub for knowledge.
Calling for clinical trials and health applications made possible through Artificial Intelligence, Seema Pai, the President of the Indian Society for Clinical Research, contributed to the initiative. To make India one of the leaders in ethical clinical research, simplified regulations and public,private partnerships are needed.
Ankur Indrakush, of Plutas AI, emphasized the need for parametric climate insurance in providing an instant means of protecting livelihoods with support in terms of funding for pilot projects and fiscal support.
Regulating Digital Assets:
Abhay Agarwal, Founder of Getbit, pointed out India’s speedy expansion in the crypto space with more than 100 million users. He called for an exclusive Crypto Bill, alignment of SEBI regulations, and a rationalized taxation structure to promote compliant digital finance and keep the funds within the boundaries of India.
The sector’s key players agree on the need for policy clarity and appropriate incentives to tap the potential of green and digital transitions for India.
