Union Budget 2026 Reactions: Technology-enabled economic transformation with an industrial backbone

With Union Budget 2026 now on the table, the government is prioritizing ease of doing business, strategic self-reliance, and technology-led growth. FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s most impactful move in this budget was the strategic emphasis on building domestic technology supply chains.

The budget leans heavily into reforms aimed at improving business conditions, while doubling down on clean energy, MSME expansion, and inclusive innovation. From technology-enabled support for farmers, women in STEM, youth, and the differently abled, to a sharper focus on scaling manufacturing in strategic sectors, the intent is to move from pilots to platforms. Equally significant is the push to build domestic value chains for critical minerals and rare earths, alongside expanding India’s semiconductor and advanced technology capabilities, signals that India is positioning itself not just as a large market, but as a serious industrial and technological power in a fragmented global economy.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reforms aimed at easing ...