Mr. Prashant Mohota, President of Vidarbha Industries Association, has welcomed Union Budget 2026, describing it as aligned with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and reflective of industry expectations. He termed it a positive, pro-industry budget with a strong focus on manufacturing, exports, and Ease of Doing Business.
Key Highlights
1. Manufacturing and Ease of Doing Business
In this budget, the government has placed strong emphasis on the manufacturing sector, particularly on rare metals and electronics. To enhance Ease of Doing Business, changes have been introduced in income tax rules and the compliance burden has been reduced.
Additionally, special focus has been given to simplifying the EXIM policy and procedures to encourage exports and rationalize import processes.
Key Pillars of Industrial Growth
- Manufacturing: Electronics and rare metals
- Trade: Export promotion and procedural simplification
- Compliance: Relaxation of rules and decriminalization
2. Development of Key Sectors : Agriculture, Tourism, and Textiles
The government has identified tourism as a major growth sector. In agriculture, emphasis has been laid on high-quality seeds and high-density plantations to promote high-value crops. Furthermore, the textile sector has been included under the employment-generating category, with announcements of incentives, making the budget favourable for this sector as well.
3. Youth and Employment Opportunities (Gen Z Focus)
To generate employment opportunities for the youth, the government has focused on the Orange Economy (creative economy) and the establishment of new training centers. In the tourism sector, new training opportunities will open up for tourist guides.
Moreover, promotion of AI training centers and data centers will benefit the IT sector. Increased spending on infrastructure will improve the quality of life and naturally lead to the creation of new jobs.
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Sector and infrastructure and drinking water by
Kaushal Mohota, Hon. Secretary – VIA
That’s a sharp and well‑structured summary you’ve put together. You’ve captured the essence of Budget 2026—its heavy tilt toward infrastructure, manufacturing, and semiconductors, while also noting the gaps in rural development and social sector allocations.
To refine your analysis further, here are a few angles you could add if you’re planning to present or write about it :
Strengths of Budget 2026
– Ambitious infrastructure drive: High‑speed rail, highways, Tier‑2/Tier‑3 city development.
– Strategic manufacturing focus: Semiconductors, rare earths, pharma, textiles, national fibre scheme.
– Middle‑class & MSME relief: Tax concessions and easier credit access.
– Inclusive growth narrative: Framed around “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.”
Areas of Concern / Missed Opportunities
– Jal Jeevan Mission: Limited new allocations despite water security being critical.
– Airports & Railways: Expansion plans not as prominent compared to highways.
– NHAI (National Highways Authority of India): Funding constraints noted, raising questions about execution capacity.
– Rural development: Less emphasis compared to urban infrastructure, which could widen disparities.
Balanced View
– Growth-oriented: Positions India as a global manufacturing hub.
– Execution-dependent: Success hinges on timely delivery of large projects.
– Inflationary risks: Heavy capital expenditure could fuel inflation if not managed carefully.
– Equity challenge: Urban‑centric push may leave rural areas underserved.
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Reform First – Post Budget Reaction
by CA Nitin Agrawal, Jt Secretary – VIA
It was a “Reform First” Budget prioritizing Long Term Structural Changes over Short Term Populist ‘handouts’. The budget was built around Viksit Bharat Theme with a specific focus on three pillars of Kartavya (Duty) prioritizing the under-privileged, accelerating growth and jobs and strengthening economic foundations. Some hits and misses of the budget are:
Hits: i) manufacturing & tech ii) Infrastructure iii) Medical sector
Misses: i) Derivatives traders ii) Middle class as no changes in tax slabs iii) lacks direct demand side stimuli.
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Yogita Deshmukh, Chairperson – VIALEW
Good news for lady entrepreneurs : “She Mart” will be opened in large scale to help in development of their business. Good news for girls of rural sector for further education
Various helps to MSME sector:- Easy finance available against debtors, Equity funding to various SME at very low cost. Rate of TCS reduced to 2% in case of foreign travel.
Three new Institutions will be built for Ayurvedic Studies. Boom for IT sector through various tax incentives. Bio pharma shakti, Mining earth corridor, three chemical park, Mega textile park, High speed railway corridor————————————
Budget 2026 reaction
Dr Anita Rao, Past Chairperson – VIALEW
The Budget is always ‘proposed’. Why is it that we do not have an evaluation mechanism to check to which extent each year’s proposed budget turns into reality? This year’s Budget is a prudent one, which indicates that money is going to where it is needed. A fiscal deficit of 4.3 sounds decent enough. Setting up of SHE MART, which will help women to have owned enterprise from credit linked enterprise, linking TReDS with GEM, focus on tourism development, reduction in BCD on import of medicines for critical illness. But all talks of growth become meaningless without serious employment generation for our youth. Nirmala ma’am has presented a ‘nirmal’ budget which has not brought much ‘anand’ to the market! Yeh Dil definitely maange more!————————————
Vandana Sharma, Past Chairman – VIALEW
Budget 2026 overall reflects a very good balanced approach between growth, fiscal responsibility, and inclusive development. By prioritizing key sectors such as infrastructure, textile, Bio-pharma, social welfare handicap, and innovation. Special plan for lakhpati didi to turn them into entrepreneurs and promote lady entrepreneurs. Overall its a very good budget for all.
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Poonam Gupta, Secretary – VIA LEW
In every district, the provision of creating a Girls’ hostel is a welcome move.
No relaxation given for women entrepreneurs. In infrastructure, the budget allocated for class C & D City was appreciated.
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