The Times Group’s ET Now Global Business Summit 2026

Reinforces consumer-centric orientation, signaling growth driven by higher household spending, domestic manufacturing, and greater rural participation

Climate and disaster priorities are being advanced through mainstream economic and infrastructure policy, rather than through standalone mission

Major shift in education, skilling, employment programmes – creating pathways for youth

Ease of doing business, targeted rationalisation, incentives, certainty in digital governance, exploration and refining of critical minerals and IFSC

Banking is key to ensure success of budget by ensuring credit in the right direction, should bring clarity on foreign investment

Creates a predictable and compliance efficient tax environment, encouraging long-term investment in biopharma, med tech, and healthcare manufacturing

Budget 2026 positions manufacturing not merely as an important sector, but as the central driver of India’s economic transformation

Biopharma shakti proposal, reduction of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on medicines and push for Ayurveda

Union Budget 2026 adopts a measured, credible, and PFM-aligned strategy to place India’s public finances on a stronger and more sustainable trajectory

The government has focused on enhancing policy and regulatory mechanisms around the infrastructure sector

Budget reiterates ‘people-centric development’ approach through targeted interventions for women, Divyangjan, gig workers and vulnerable communities

Higher allocations, a mission mode reform framework, and the integration of manufacturing, skilling, and tourism

Structural reforms and simplification with tax holidays to foreign players, Safe harbour provisions, MAT provisions and cross border clarity

Rules and forms pursuant to the new Income-tax Act 2025 to be notified, attracting investment in data centres and promoting AI data centre framework

Likely to shift the sector’s development trajectory from short-term developmental focus toward structural supply expansion

Infrastructure remains growth backbone with capex rising on roadways and railways, ensuring multi-year visibility for the transport infrastructure pipeline

Budget focuses on distributed, well-networked and infrastructure-led growth initiatives prioritizing the development of regional economic corridors