Industry leaders across technology, services, real estate and advisory sectors weigh in on the structural priorities outlined in India’s Union Budget 2026–27
India’s Union Budget 2026–27 has drawn a broadly positive response from industry leaders across services, technology, infrastructure, real estate and advisory sectors. A consistent theme emerging from these reactions is the Government’s clear intent to move beyond short-term fiscal adjustments and instead anchor policy around long-term competitiveness, digital capability building and structural economic growth.
Key Points
- Budget 2026 focuses on long-term structural growth rather than short-term fiscal stimulus
- Services sector positioned as a core engine of economic growth and exports
- Strong emphasis on digital infrastructure, including data centres and cloud capabilities
- Clear push towards AI, semiconductors and foundational technology capacity
- Measures link technology investments with inclusion, skills and MSME enablement
- Public capex and manufacturing support expected to drive growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities
- REIT reforms seen as unlocking value in real estate and capital markets
- Tax certainty and service-sector reforms welcomed by advisory professionals
A key highlight for many executives is the Budget’s positioning of the services sector as a central pillar of India’s growth strategy. Ankit Agarwal, Vice-Chairman and Non-Executive Director of Invenia-STL Networks, described the Budget as firmly reinforcing services as a core driver of “Viksit Bharat,” underlining its role in economic expansion, employment generation and export growth. This emphasis has been interpreted as a recognition of services not just as a support function, but as a strategic engine powering India’s global economic standing.
Digital infrastructure has emerged as another major focus area. Industry leaders welcomed the explicit attention given to data centres, cloud platforms and digital public infrastructure. Agarwal noted that recognising data centres as foundational assets strengthens India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and next-generation digital services. According to him, incentives aimed at expanding this infrastructure could help India attract foreign investment, accelerate domestic innovation and build a resilient base for emerging technologies.
From a broader technology perspective, CP Gurnani, Co-Founder and Vice Chairman of AIONOS, interpreted the Budget as marking a shift in India’s approach to technology—from adoption to capability building. He highlighted the emphasis on AI, semiconductors, cloud and data infrastructure as evidence that policymakers understand leadership in the digital economy must be built from the ground up. Gurnani stressed that strong technological foundations are essential for sustained competitiveness rather than incremental gains.
Importantly, industry leaders also pointed to the Budget’s attempt to balance technological ambition with inclusion. Gurnani observed that aligning AI investments with skilling initiatives, workforce readiness and MSME enablement sends a strong signal that scale and inclusivity must progress together. Initiatives such as Bharat Vistar, which offers local-language, data-driven agricultural guidance, and the proposed Centre of Excellence in AI for Education were cited as examples of how advanced technology is being linked to tangible, grassroots outcomes.
In the mobility and operational services space, the Budget’s emphasis on sustained public capital expenditure and manufacturing support was seen as a growth catalyst. Sriram Kannan, Founder and CEO of Routematic, noted that proposals such as rare-earth magnet corridors for electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing, along with the MSME Growth Fund, clearly outline where India’s next phase of growth may originate. As manufacturing and services expand into Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, Kannan pointed out that workforce mobility and operational efficiency will become increasingly critical. Organised, technology-driven employee transportation, he said, will be essential to translating policy intent into productivity gains and higher workforce participation.
The real estate sector also responded positively, particularly to reforms aimed at unlocking value and improving capital flows. Hardeep Dayal, President – Commercial at Bhartiya Urban, described the introduction of dedicated REITs for CPSE assets as an innovative and market-driven reform. By enabling the monetisation of under-utilised government assets and recycling capital into infrastructure development, Dayal believes the move will deepen liquidity, broaden the investor base and strengthen India’s commercial real estate ecosystem.
Advisory professionals focused on tax and regulatory clarity for the services sector. CA Nidhi Goyal, Managing Director at Avinav Consulting and Partner at Nivesa Advisors LLP, highlighted measures that aim to provide tax certainty for BPOs and streamline service classifications under IT services with a common safe harbour margin. She noted that these reforms support India’s long-term vision of expanding its global services footprint while also addressing the evolving impact of artificial intelligence on service delivery and employment.
Taken together, industry reactions suggest that Union Budget 2026 is being read as a forward-looking policy framework rather than a tactical fiscal exercise. By combining investments in digital infrastructure, clarity for the services sector, capital market reforms and inclusion-linked technology initiatives, the Budget signals India’s intent to strengthen its position as a global hub for services, digital innovation and sustainable economic growth.
