The Union Budget 2026-27, to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2026, at 11 AM (a historic Sunday presentation), is generating strong pre-budget expectations from key sectors focused on human capital, wellness, real estate, technology, digital infrastructure, and startups. As India advances toward Viksit Bharat and a knowledge-driven economy, leaders are calling for targeted reforms in education and skilling affordability, preventive healthcare via fitness, structural real estate support, deep-tech and AI incentives, interconnection infrastructure, and startup ecosystem strengthening to boost employability, innovation, digital inclusion, and inclusive growth.
Education & Skilling: Tax Relief and Affordable Upskilling for Future-Ready Workforce
Dr. Kamal Chhabra, Founder & CEO of KC GLobEd, emphasizes financial barriers hindering skilling and the need for supportive measures.
“In Budget 2026, I hope to see stronger support for personal finance in the education and skilling sector. Today, students and working professionals want to upskill, but high costs often hold them back. The government can make a real difference by offering tax benefits on professional courses, reducing GST on EdTech services, and simplifying access to education loans. Increased public spending on digital learning infrastructure will also empower millions to pursue global credentials without financial stress. An affordable, future-ready learning ecosystem is not just an expectation – it’s a necessity for India’s skilled workforce.”
Real Estate: Industry Status and Buyer Incentives to Boost Affordability and Supply
Mr. Gaurav Mavi, Co-founder, BOP.in, advocates for systemic reforms to address affordability challenges and revive demand.
“Before the Budget session, the real estate sector is asking for significant changes in the system instead of temporary solutions. When affordability is getting worse and demand is dropping in some areas, the thing that we most need is the official recognition of real estate as an industry. By doing so, it would be possible to give developers cheaper financing and, as a result, increase the housing supply, particularly in the mid- and affordable-housing segments. The introduction of more attractive tax benefits for homebuyers, rationalised GST or stamp duty on under-construction homes, and a more dynamic Credit-Linked Subsidy Scheme would be the ways to buyer confidence restoration. From the supply side, the removal of capital barriers and the enhancement of regulatory clarity will be the developers’ tools to not only maintain but also increase the delivery of quality, compliant projects. Such a Budget would be a game-changer.”
Preventive Healthcare & Fitness: Tax Rebates and Financing to Increase Penetration
Mr. Vikas Jain, Managing Director, Anytime Fitness India, highlights low gym penetration and the role of fitness in reducing healthcare burdens.
“India’s fitness penetration is still very low, with less than 1% (0.8%) of the population enrolled in gyms compared to 25% in western countries. To create a healthier India, gymming and fitness services must be viewed as essential components of preventive healthcare.” He further adds, “The government and banking sector can play a pivotal role by enabling easier financing options, such as low-interest loans and simplified credit access for gym owners, franchisees, and entrepreneurs. This will encourage more people to enter the fitness industry, expand infrastructure, and ultimately make preventive healthcare more accessible across India, reducing the long-term burden on Hospitals.” The 2026 Budget should also be focusing on building the wellness sector through various means like providing tax rebates for fitness memberships and increasing nationwide campaigns that promote an active lifestyle.”
Technology, AI & Deep-Tech: Incentives for Innovation and Semiconductor Ecosystem
Mr. Rajasekhar Papolu, Managing Director, Brihaspathi Technologies Limited, calls for a shift to deep-tech and workforce skilling.
“As India advances toward becoming a global digital leader, the upcoming Union Budget is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the country’s technology and AI trajectory. Beyond digital services, the focus must now shift to deep-tech innovation, AI-led transformation, and indigenous technology development. Enhanced incentives for AI research, innovation funding, and industry–academia collaboration will be crucial to accelerate adoption across sectors such as healthcare, urban infrastructure, manufacturing, and public safety.
Equally important is strengthening domestic electronics and semiconductor ecosystems by rationalising duties on critical components while encouraging local manufacturing. Skilling and reskilling initiatives in AI, data science, and cybersecurity will be key to building a future-ready workforce.”
Digital Infrastructure & Interconnection: Strategic Recognition and Incentives for Growth
Mr. Sudhir Kunder, CBO, DE-CIX India, stresses interconnection as a pillar for AI, cloud, and digital inclusion.
“As digital consumption accelerates, interconnection must be recognised as a strategic pillar of national digital infrastructure, powering innovation across AI, cloud, fintech, and India’s rapidly expanding data centre ecosystem
As India moves decisively toward becoming a global digital hub, Budget 2026 must prioritise policies that strengthen the foundational layers of digital infrastructure, especially interconnection and data exchange ecosystems. We expect targeted incentives for neutral Interconnection Platform, Edge Data Centres, and Cloud Platforms that reduce latency, improve resilience, and lower network costs for SMEs, SMBs, Enterprises and ISPs alike.
Policy clarity regarding data localisation, cross-border data flows, and power and right-of-way reforms will be crucial to accelerating investments in next-generation digital infrastructure. Additionally, a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) approach to expanding interconnection in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities can accelerate digital inclusion. With the industry growing at 25% CAGR and projected to reach 32% CAGR by FY26, neutral interconnection platforms will play a crucial role in accelerating this growth.
A future-ready Budget should recognise interconnection as a strategic enabler of AI, cloud, fintech, smart cities, and digital public infrastructure, ensuring India remains competitive, scalable, and digitally sovereign in the global economy.”
Startups & Tech Ecosystem: Support for Local Innovation Amid Cost Pressures
Abhijeet Rajpurohit, Co-founder and COO, CouldTV, seeks policies to counter rising hardware costs and foster collaboration.
“While the Indian startup ecosystem witnessed moderate growth the past year amid investor selectivity, it also ranked third globally, with AI, fintech, and consumer tech driving resilient investments. The Government’s push towards homegrown tech and self-reliance is definitely a step in the right direction. However, rising input costs, particularly the increase in RAM prices and other critical hardware components, have added pressure on technology companies and product-led startups.
We are hopeful to see policies that prioritize and support local companies focused on building for India. Greater accessibility and collaboration with government bodies, especially institutions such as MeitY, would enable startups to innovate and scale with confidence. More importantly, it’s about taking decisive steps that encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen the innovation ecosystem driving India’s tech growth.”
With the Union Budget 2026 just days away, these insights underscore a collective push for reforms that enhance affordability in education and wellness, unlock real estate potential, accelerate AI and digital infrastructure, and empower startups. Such measures could significantly boost India’s human capital, preventive health, technological sovereignty, and entrepreneurial ecosystem, aligning with long-term goals of inclusive, innovation-led growth.
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