The Union Budget 2026-27 marks a pivotal moment for India’s economy, as the country transitions from ambitious policy announcements to effective on-ground execution. With the recent implementation of the four Labour Codes in late 2025, the focus has shifted toward practical reforms that support businesses, workforce development, financial resilience, education, and emerging sectors like digital media. Industry leaders from HR tech, finance, education, and advertising share their expectations, highlighting the need for compliance support, middle-class protection, talent building, and ecosystem growth.
This Budget, set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2026, is anticipated to emphasize infrastructure, manufacturing, MSMEs, green energy, digital infrastructure, and fiscal discipline amid projections of 6.8-7.2% GDP growth. Stakeholders hope for measures that bridge policy intent with real-world adoption, fostering sustainable and inclusive progress.
HR Tech and Labour Reforms: Prioritizing Compliance Infrastructure for MSMEs
As India enters the execution phase of the Labour Codes, MSMEs face significant challenges in adapting to new wage and social security norms.
Girish Rowjee, Co-founder & CEO of greytHR—a platform trusted by over 30,000 businesses emphasizes the need for practical support.
“Union Budget 2026–27: From Policy to Practice – The Execution Era for India Inc. As we approach Union Budget 2026–27, the spotlight shifts from policy announcement to ground-level practice. With the historic notification of the four Labour Codes in late 2025, India stands at a critical execution phase – one that will redefine the employer–employee relationship. For MSMEs, this transition is the biggest challenge of the year. Our hope is that the Budget prioritises ‘compliance infrastructure’ over mere regulation. We need specific incentives for small businesses to adopt digital payroll and HR tools, ensuring the shift to the new wage and social security norms is intuitive, not intimidating. Furthermore, rationalising GST for labor services and simplifying audit thresholds will provide immediate relief to operational cash flows. As an HR tech platform trusted by over 30,000 businesses, greytHR sees technology as the bridge between complex regulation and confident execution. This Budget is an opportunity to unlock India’s workforce potential by making compliance smarter, faster, and easier to adopt.” — Girish Rowjee, Co-founder & CEO, greytHR
Rowjee’s insights underscore the role of technology in simplifying compliance, which could boost productivity and ease cash flow pressures for small enterprises.
Financial Resilience and Middle-Class Empowerment
With economic uncertainties persisting, there’s strong demand for policies that safeguard household finances and promote long-term wealth creation.
Kirang Gandhi, a Pune-based Financial Mentor, calls for a strategic shift.
“From Union Budget 2026, I expect a shift from short-term relief to long-term financial resilience. The focus should be on protecting the middle class through higher basic exemptions, rational taxation, and stronger retirement and health safeguards. Capital markets need stability, not surprises. Above all, the Budget must encourage disciplined investing, financial literacy, and asset creation because sustainable wealth is built by direction, not speed.” — Kirang Gandhi, Pune-based Financial Mentor
These expectations align with broader calls for income tax relief, such as higher exemptions and deductions, to support middle-class consumption and investment.
Education and Talent Development: Building a Global Talent Powerhouse
Investing in human capital remains crucial for India’s ambition to become a talent-driven economy.
Mr. Nirvaan Birla, Managing Director of Birla Open Minds Education Ltd., highlights the transformative potential of education reforms.
“The upcoming budget is a golden opportunity to fuel India’s journey toward becoming a global talent powerhouse. By deepening the focus on teacher empowerment, we can turn the vision of the National Education Policy into a reality. The future belongs to a nation that invests in its learners today, ensuring every student has the tools to thrive in a digital-first world. As we head into #Budget2026, there’s a lot to feel positive about. The intent around digital learning, AI readiness, skills-embedded education and innovation is clear there, and with over 2 lakh recognised startups, the capacity to execute also exists.” — Mr. Nirvaan Birla, Managing Director, Birla Open Minds Education Ltd.
This perspective resonates with sector demands for skilling, digital infrastructure, and teacher upskilling to align education with industry needs in AI and innovation.
Strengthening the Media and Advertising Ecosystem
The digital content and advertising sectors, key drivers of creative economy growth, seek targeted support.
Mr. Pratap Jain, Founder and CEO of ChanaJor OTT, outlines priorities for sustainability and expansion.
“The advertising industry expects the upcoming Union Budget to focus on strengthening the overall media and digital ecosystem. Key expectations include support for original digital content and storytelling, which has become a major growth driver for brands and platforms. Incentives for content creation and distribution can help India emerge as a strong creative economy. Another important area is support for MSMEs and small brands, who form a large part of advertising demand but often reduce spends due to cost pressure. Any policy that makes advertising more affordable for them will directly expand the market. The industry also expects investment in skill development, especially in areas like digital marketing, AI-led advertising, and data analytics, so that talent keeps pace with changing consumer behavior. Lastly, clear and stable regulations around digital media, data usage, and advertising norms are essential to build long-term confidence and sustainable growth.” — Mr. Pratap Jain, Founder and CEO, ChanaJor OTT
These views highlight the intersection of content, MSME support, and skills to fuel digital media growth.
Conclusion: A Budget for Execution and Inclusive Growth
The Union Budget 2026-27 is poised to be more about implementation than new announcements, with expectations centered on MSME enablement, tax rationalization, education investment, financial safeguards, and sector-specific incentives. By addressing these areas, the government can empower businesses, protect households, build talent, and drive creative industries—unlocking India’s full economic potential in this execution era.