As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, industry leaders across technology, healthcare, logistics, workforce services and startups are calling for greater emphasis on execution, infrastructure continuity and regulatory clarity to support sustainable growth in a changing economic environment.
A recurring theme in pre-Budget discussions is the need to translate policy intent into effective on-ground outcomes, particularly as digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), supply chain reconfiguration and workforce formalisation gather pace.
In enterprise technology, companies are looking for measures that strengthen execution readiness alongside innovation. Kaushik Mitra, Vice President and Head of India Go-to-Market at Celonis India, said the Budget could enable enterprise AI adoption by supporting data modernisation and open, system-agnostic digital ecosystems. He noted that fragmented processes across departments continue to limit AI’s impact in supply chains, finance and manufacturing, adding that stable and predictable tax and compliance frameworks would encourage long-term investment in technology and talent.
Sumed Marwaha, Managing Director at AHEAD India, said the next phase of growth in the enterprise technology ecosystem will be shaped by how infrastructure investment, regulatory clarity and talent development converge. He pointed to the importance of continued focus on digital infrastructure, cloud ecosystems and modern data platforms to support resilient hybrid operations. As provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act move into execution, Marwaha said practical operational guidance and stronger data governance ecosystems will be critical. He also highlighted the need for policy support to build physical AI infrastructure and data centres, alongside sustained focus on cybersecurity and industry-aligned skilling.
In healthcare, industry voices are linking Budget priorities to demographic shifts and the rising burden of chronic disease. Parth Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of Decode Age, said the Budget has an opportunity to strengthen preventive healthcare and longevity-focused innovation. He emphasised sustained R&D incentives, regulatory clarity for science-led health innovation and shared access to advanced research infrastructure across genomics, diagnostics and health data. According to Amin, enabling long-term growth capital and collaboration between startups, academia, clinicians and industry could help shift healthcare from late-stage treatment to early intervention.
Logistics and supply chain players are seeking continuity in capital expenditure and policies that improve predictability. Dr Ashvini Jakhar, Founder and CEO of Prozo, said execution-led infrastructure remains the most important lever for reducing logistics costs by improving reliability, lowering transit variability and enhancing asset utilisation. He pointed to initiatives such as the National Logistics Policy, PM Gati Shakti and Dedicated Freight Corridors as steps in the right direction, and said sustained capex, faster multimodal movement and decentralised warehousing closer to demand will be important. Jakhar also flagged urban logistics friction, compliance complexity, warehousing approvals and consistent implementation of labour codes as areas requiring attention.
From the express logistics perspective, Dipanjan Banerjee, Chief Commercial Officer at Blue Dart, said Budget 2026 could help drive efficiency-led growth through better physical and digital integration across air, road, rail and multimodal corridors. He highlighted the need to reduce dwell times, simplify customs processes and enable smoother intermodal transfers to support export competitiveness. Banerjee also pointed to opportunities in cross-border e-commerce for MSMEs and the need for policy support for cleaner mobility, including EV ecosystems and sustainable aviation fuel.
Labour-intensive service sectors are watching the Budget for clarity on workforce reforms. Deepak K Jain, Group CFO of Tenon Group, said the implementation of all four Labour Codes brings greater clarity and consistency for labour-intensive industries. However, he stressed that effective outcomes will require alignment among employers, clients and regulators to ensure compliance while maintaining operational stability.
Gig economy platforms are calling for stronger social security mechanisms. Rahm Shastry, CEO of DriveU, said Budget 2026 should prioritise gig worker welfare through effective implementation of the Code on Social Security, 2020, with adjustments to eligibility requirements. He advocated for a centrally managed social security fund with shared contributions and portable benefits.
From the startup ecosystem, Akash Shukla, startup mentor at Uprise India, said expectations ahead of the Budget centre on employment-led growth driven by startups and MSMEs, supported by improved credit flow, rationalised compliance and execution-oriented reforms, especially in Tier-II and Tier-III markets.
Together, these views reflect industry expectations for continuity, clarity and execution-focused policymaking as the government prepares the Union Budget 2026.
