Ganesh Sonawane, CEO and Co-Founder, Frido
“The Union Budget 2026 marks a significant step forward for India’s consumer manufacturing ecosystem. By easing input costs and streamlining digital cargo clearances, the Budget creates a faster, more cost-efficient environment for brands to scale operations and compete on a global stage. These measures not only enhance competitiveness but also reinforce India’s commitment to building a modern, agile manufacturing landscape that can respond to both domestic and international demand.
A particularly encouraging aspect of the Budget is its focus on strengthening the assistive technology sector. The proposed Assistive Technology Marts – retail-style centres where persons with disabilities and seniors can explore, test, and purchase reliable mobility and ergonomic solutions, represent a shift from a traditional welfare approach to an innovation-driven agenda. By ensuring direct access to affordable, tested, and future-ready devices, these initiatives empower citizens and create opportunities for entrepreneurs and manufacturers to develop solutions that address real-world needs.
Together, these measures signal a clear commitment to creating a consumer-centric, inclusive, and technologically advanced manufacturing ecosystem. By combining operational efficiency, targeted innovation, and social impact, the Budget not only addresses present challenges but also positions India for long-term leadership in global consumer manufacturing and inclusive innovation. It lays the foundation for a future where competitiveness, accessibility, and technological progress move hand in hand, driving growth and empowerment for all citizens.”
Swagatika Das, CEO & Co-Founder, Nat Habit
“The Union Budget 2026 signals a clear intent to position Ayurveda and AYUSH as scalable, science-backed contributors to India’s beauty and wellness economy. The creation of three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda strengthens the research, standardisation, and clinical validation framework that the sector needs to move beyond legacy narratives and build global credibility.
This focus on infrastructure and capability building will elevate product standards, deepen consumer trust, and support the evolution of Ayurveda-led formulations for modern markets. Equally significant is the renewed push to expand exports of Ayurveda and AYUSH-based products, reinforcing India’s position as a reliable global supplier in the fast-growing natural beauty and wellness segment.
Inclusion-led initiatives such as She MARTS further strengthen the ecosystem by expanding market access for women-led micro-enterprises and enabling decentralised, value-driven growth across the supply chain. Together, these measures lay the foundation for a future-ready Ayurveda beauty sector anchored in science, scale, and global ambition.”
Ricky Vasandani, CEO & Co-Founder, Solitario
“Budget 2026 sends a strong signal for sectors driven by advanced manufacturing, ethical sourcing, and consumer-led growth. Measures such as the continued focus on retail-led demand, the ₹1.4 lakh crore allocation towards growth-oriented priorities, and the ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund under the ‘Champion SMEs’ initiative are expected to improve access to capital for innovation-driven businesses, while targeted tax reforms under the new regime could support consumption in discretionary categories.
Equally impactful are the export-focused reforms, including faster and low-intervention customs processes, duty rationalisation, and exemptions on capital goods linked to critical mineral processing. Alongside the sustained emphasis on R&D and responsible adoption of advanced technologies, these steps create a more enabling environment for lab-grown diamond and ethical luxury manufacturers to scale responsibly, strengthen global competitiveness, and contribute meaningfully to India’s vision of Viksit Bharat.”
