The Union Budget 2026, presented by the Hon’ble Finance Minister of India, has laid out a decisive roadmap to strengthen India’s growth engines by focusing on entrepreneurship, manufacturing-led expansion in textiles, and a more resilient healthcare ecosystem. With targeted policy measures, enhanced funding mechanisms, and a renewed emphasis on grassroots development, the budget has been widely welcomed by industry leaders across sectors. India’s textile story. As the founder of a next-gen activewear brand, I see this as an opportunity to empower the backbone of our industry, our MSMEs, manufacturers, and skilled artisans. Mega textile parks with modern infrastructure can truly change the game by enabling scale, innovation, and sustainable production. If implemented well, this can help Indian brands like RYZ compete globally while proudly building in India, for the world.”
Echoing similar optimism, Nitin Jain, Founder, IVYN, added, “The government’s proposal to revive 2,000 industry clusters, create a ₹10,000 crore MSME growth fund, and establish mega textile parks is a strong signal of long-term commitment to India’s manufacturing backbone. These measures will modernise the textile and garment ecosystem, enabling scale, innovation, and global competitiveness. Indian textiles are well-positioned to become a dominant global force over the next decade, supported by infrastructure-led growth and stronger global alignments.”
Entrepreneurship & Startups: Powering Innovation Beyond Metros
Budget 2026 has also placed a sharp focus on democratising entrepreneurship by strengthening the GENESIS programme, Fund of Funds, and Seed Fund schemes, with special emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, first-time founders, women entrepreneurs, and SC/ST-led ventures.
Sharing his perspective, Adeeb Jamal, Founder, ARAF, said, “As a founder building from a Tier 2 city ( Jamshedpur ), I see Budget 2026 as a decisive turning point in India’s startup narrative. The expansion of GENESIS, alongside reinforced Fund of Funds and Seed Fund schemes, directly addresses the challenges founders face outside metro ecosystems, access to patient capital, quality mentorship, and infrastructure. The focus on first-time entrepreneurs, women, and SC/ST founders signals a genuine intent to democratise entrepreneurship. Measures like enhanced credit guarantees, extended tax holidays, and innovation universities significantly reduce early-stage risk and create the cash-flow visibility needed to scale. These steps lay the foundation for a more inclusive, resilient, and deeptech-driven startup ecosystem where innovation is no longer limited by geography.”
Healthcare: Building a Resilient, Future-Ready Ecosystem
The healthcare sector witnessed a strong and positive response following the Union Budget 2026 announcements, underlining market confidence in India’s long-term healthcare and bio-pharma ambitions. Key indices such as the Nifty Pharma and BSE Healthcare Index rose by 1.7–2%, reflecting investor optimism around policy clarity, innovation-led growth, and infrastructure expansion.
Commenting on the budget’s healthcare focus, Sakshi Shah, Founder, Goodlives, said, “The positive market response, with the Nifty Pharma and BSE Healthcare Index rising by 1.7 – 2%, reflects strong confidence in the government’s vision of positioning India as a global bio-pharma development hub. Beyond capital markets, the proposal to train 1.5 lakh caregivers is a critical step toward strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. A skilled caregiver workforce is essential not only to address the growing burden of chronic and age-related conditions but also to provide much-needed support for mental health care, where early intervention, empathy, and continuity of care are crucial. Together, these measures signal a balanced approach that combines innovation, investment, human capital development, and mental well-being, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reinforcing the long-term resilience of India’s healthcare ecosystem.”
Overall, the Union Budget 2026 underscores the government’s intent to drive sustainable and inclusive growth by strengthening India’s economic fundamentals across innovation, manufacturing, and healthcare. By empowering startups beyond metro cities, revitalising MSME-led textile ecosystems, and investing in healthcare infrastructure and human capital, the budget moves beyond short-term stimulus toward long-term capacity building. If executed effectively, these measures have the potential to accelerate global competitiveness, generate employment at scale, and ensure more equitable access to opportunities and care. Together, they signal a future-ready policy framework aligned with India’s ambition to build a resilient, innovation-driven, and globally integrated economy.
