As India gears up for the upcoming Union Budget, industry leaders across smart infrastructure, power, policy & legal, real estate and startups have outlined key expectations aimed at driving sustainable growth, easing compliance and strengthening investor confidence.

Emphasising the need for a future-ready policy framework, Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Executive Director, Radius Synergies International, said the Budget should prioritise accelerated development of digital infrastructure and clean energy. He called for higher allocations towards smart grids, advanced metering infrastructure and technology-driven utility modernisation to enhance efficiency, transparency and resilience in the power sector. He also underscored the importance of fiscal incentives for clean energy, IoT-enabled systems, automation and simplified regulations to enable faster technology adoption across both urban and rural India.

From a policy and legal standpoint, Mr. Venket Rao, Founder, Intygrat Law, stressed the importance of policy continuity supported by targeted reforms to boost investor confidence. He highlighted the need for greater clarity in taxation—particularly around capital gains, real estate transactions and corporate restructuring—along with simplified tax provisions and faster dispute resolution mechanisms to reduce litigation and compliance burdens. According to him, rationalisation of GST in real estate, enhanced tax incentives for homebuyers and continued support for innovation-led sectors will be crucial for long-term economic growth.

Sharing expectations from the startup and emerging business ecosystem, Mr. Gaurav K. Singh, Chairman & Founder, Womeki Group, said the industry is optimistic that the Budget will further strengthen startups and MSMEs through easier compliance norms, improved access to credit and policy stability. He added that focused support for technology adoption, R&D incentives, clarity in taxation and skilling initiatives would help startups scale efficiently, boost investor confidence and promote sustainable business practices.

Highlighting the real estate sector’s outlook, Henam Khaneja, Additional Vice President & Head of Commercial Sales, Elante Group, said the industry is looking to the Union Budget 2026 for measures that stimulate both residential and commercial demand. For homebuyers, higher tax deductions on home loan interest would offer much-needed relief amid elevated interest rates. On the commercial front, she noted that incentives for Grade-A office spaces, data centres, logistics parks and mixed-use developments, along with easier access to institutional financing, could significantly improve sector viability. Granting infrastructure status to commercial real estate and rationalising GST on construction materials, she added, would further support growth.

Collectively, these industry voices reflect expectations that the upcoming Union Budget will strike a balance between fiscal discipline and growth-oriented reforms, reinforcing India’s position as a stable, innovation-driven and attractive investment destination.