Budget 2026–27: Affordable housing, tax cuts and women-led growth top expert wish list

As India prepares for the Union Budget 2026–27 presentation on February 1, sectoral expectations are mounting in real estate, financial markets, MSMEs, women’s development, and senior citizen welfare.

Industry voices emphasize the need for budget provisions to address practical challenges while extending advantages to the wider population.

Eastern Bihar Industries Association president Govind Agrawal highlighted real estate’s dual significance as an economic driver and common man’s concern during discussions with IANS. He noted the sector contributes approximately 7% to GDP and ranks as the nation’s second-largest employment source after agriculture.

Agrawal urged budgetary reconsideration of affordable housing criteria and advocated reinstating GST input tax credits for developers, arguing their absence inflates construction expenses and final housing costs.

Economist Pradeep Jhunjhunwala underscored the necessity for citizen-focused budgetary measures, proposing enhanced tax benefits for seniors through elevated TDS thresholds and increased exemption limits. He specifically recommended expanding real estate sector tax exemptions to ₹1 crore.

Tax specialist Sanjay Kumar Sakal pointed to persistent global market instability stemming from geopolitical conflicts and former US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, noting these factors have driven significant stock market fluctuations in recent years.

Entrepreneur Priya Soni acknowledged governmental efforts in women’s empowerment while identifying implementation gaps. She emphasized the need for simplified regional-language dissemination of scheme information through visible public campaigns and material inflation-adjusted allocations for maternity and nutrition initiatives.

Soni further outlined requirements for women entrepreneurs beyond financing, including marketing infrastructure and specialized commerce platforms tailored to female-led businesses.

(Inputs from IANS)