As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026 — marking the first time in Indian history the budget is presented on a Sunday — industry stakeholders from real estate, infrastructure, education, and pharmaceuticals are outlining key expectations. With the Budget Session underway since January 28, 2026, the focus remains on infrastructure connectivity, sustainable urban development, future-ready education, innovation incentives, and policy stability to drive inclusive economic momentum toward Viksit Bharat.
Leaders emphasize targeted incentives for green building, transit-oriented projects, R&D in pharma, and higher education reforms to enhance affordability, job creation, and global competitiveness.
Infrastructure and Real Estate: Prioritizing Connectivity, Sustainability, and Affordability
Karteesh Reddy, CEO of GHR Infra, highlights the multiplier effect of premium developments: “For premium and lifestyle focused developments, real estate & infrastructure is the real value multiplier. From our perspective, Budget 2026 is an opportunity to reinforce investments in high quality transport links, social infrastructure and green standards that elevate living experiences.”
He adds: “A stronger push for sustainable building practices and energy efficient designs would encourage developers like GHR Infra to accelerate adoption of low carbon materials, smart home tech and water conservation… Measures like viability gap funding for metro extensions and tax benefits for energy efficient buildings will create a virtuous cycle of premium supply, rising aspirations and economic multipliers.”
Ajitesh Korupolu, Founder & CEO of ASBL, stresses liveability and policy predictability: “As a new‑age infrastructure and real‑estate developer, we expect Budget 2026 to keep its focus firmly on connectivity, liveability and sustainability. Continued investment in city‑level infrastructure—roads, metro corridors, civic assets and water management that directly shapes the quality of life… A predictable policy environment, especially around land approvals, taxation and single‑window clearances, will help developers plan long‑term.”
Sharat Ventrapragada, Designated Partner of GHR Lakshmi Urbanblocks Infra LLP (representing Urbanblocks Realty), calls for bridging infra and urban ecosystems: “As a developer of integrated, sustainable urban ecosystems, we see Budget 2026 as a pivotal moment to bridge infrastructure investment with next‑generation city‑building… We expect policy support for transit‑oriented development, green building incentives and single‑window clearances… Clear signals on land monetisation, ESG financing and urban renewal will drive inclusive, resilient communities.”
Amit Jain, CMD of Arkade Developers Limited, seeks tax rationalisation for housing: “With expectations of policy support for MSMEs, incentives for technology and AI investment… meaningful tax rationalisation and targeted relief measures, if considered by the government, particularly in affordable and mid income housing could significantly improve project viability.”
Rohan Khatau, Director of CCI Projects, focuses on capital flows: “The upcoming Union Budget 2026 is expected to play a critical role in shaping longterm capital flows into the real estate sector. Targeted focus on infrastructure investment, clarity on REIT and InvIT taxation and incentives that encourage private and institutional participation can enhance liquidity and transparency.”
Somesh Mittal, Co-Founder of One Prastha, notes market shifts: “Looking toward 2026, India’s real estate sector is set for stable growth… As Budget 2026 nears, we at One Prastha expect regulatory simplification and faster approvals.”
Education: Building Future-Ready Institutions and Industry Linkages
Prof. M. A. Venkataramanan, Pro-Vice Chancellor of FLAME University, advocates for research and global benchmarking: “Ahead of the Union Budget 2026, the education sector expects support for building future-ready universities. We need to invest more in India-centric research and development, interdisciplinary learning, and integration of AI in everyday teaching… Greater industry–academia collaborations, through structured career pathways, will be key to improving job-readiness of our students… we must use this opportunity to build globally benchmarked institutions at home.”
Pharma and Health Tech: Innovation, R&D, and Preventive Care Focus
Hari Kiran Chereddi, MD & CEO of HRV Pharma, seeks long-term stability: “As India gets ready for the Annual Budget 2026, the pharmaceutical sector is focusing on long-term policy stability that encourages innovation, quality, and resilience… It will be important to restore competitive R&D incentives, adjust GST on essential therapies, and increase support for API and biosimilar manufacturing. Smart regulation… can help Indian pharma shift from being volume-driven to being led by innovation.”
Aditi Ohri, Co-Founder of Mr. Yoda emphasizes AI in healthcare: “We are hopeful that Budget 2026 will further cement India’s leadership in health tech and AI-driven healthcare through smart investments in digital infrastructure and prevention-first models. Targeted support for AI R&D, upskilling tech-enabled clinical teams, and deploying AI-led screening in primary healthcare can enable early detection and accessible preventive care… investment in foundational AI infrastructure… can shift India from reactive treatment to predictive, preventive healthcare.”
With the Union Budget 2026 presentation just days away on February 1, 2026, at 11 AM, these expectations underscore the need for balanced reforms that integrate infrastructure with real estate demand, foster educational excellence, and propel pharma innovation. Such measures could accelerate sustainable urbanization, skill development, and health resilience while bolstering investor confidence and economic growth.
Last Updated on: Wednesday, January 28, 2026 5:24 pm by Digital Herald Team | Published by: Digital Herald Team on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 5:22 pm | News Categories: News