Budget Expectations 2026: Real Estate Industry Pushes for Single-Window Approvals
Budget 2026 Expectations LIVE Updates: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for FY27 on February 1, a Sunday. The Budget Session of Parliament will begin on January 28 and conclude on April 2, while the Economic Survey is expected to be tabled a day ahead of the Budget. In the run-up, major industry bodies and experts have put forward a range of policy suggestions and budgetary demands.
Rising household incomes and sustained consumer confidence are driving strong demand for luxury residences across the NCR. As lifestyle expectations evolve, luxury housing is increasingly viewed not as a discretionary purchase but as a long-term investment in quality living. We are expecting an introduction of a streamlined single-window approval system, along with measures to ease regulatory bottlenecks. This can significantly enhance project execution timelines and improve capital efficiency for both developers and homebuyers, said Payas Agarwal, Director, Great Value Realty.
The real estate sector is not the only one with high expectations. The job-tech sector is seeking outcome-linked skilling and industry-academia collaboration. 'Viksit Bharat will be built when education becomes a talent pipeline, not a credential factory. Budget 2026 should support joint industry-academia funding, outcome-based accountability, and scalable digital skilling to drive real employment outcomes,' said Prateek Shukla, Co-Founder & CEO, Masai.
The capital gains clarity is crucial to build long-term investor trust, according to Atom Financial's Harsha Vardhana. 'From a wealth management perspective, clear capital gains treatment allows us to channel conversations to where they belong. Asset allocation, risk management, and long-term goals should drive portfolios, not uncertainty around taxation. India has taken important steps in bringing household savings into financial markets. The next phase is about strengthening trust and staying power. A simplified and predictable approach to capital gains in Budget 2026 would be a strong signal that long-term investors remain at the center of policy thinking,' said Harsha Vardhana, Founder & Group CEO, Atom Financial Services.
The solar industry is also looking for stronger PLI and tax relief to build upstream manufacturing. The Indian solar industry is at the threshold of a quantum leap from 135 GW capacity in 2025 to over 300 GW by 2030, making it the single largest contributor to India's ambitious 500 GW non-fossil fuel energy target. We strongly advocate for an enhanced PLI scheme specifically for polysilicon, ingot, and wafer manufacturing, said Prashant Mathur, Chief Executive Officer, Saatvik Green Energy Limited.
Beyond PLI support, the industry has sought accelerated depreciation benefits for solar manufacturing equipment—on par with incentives available to solar projects—to improve capital efficiency and project viability. Proposals also include lower corporate tax rates for solar manufacturers and access to priority sector lending at concessional rates, measures that could enhance competitiveness and attract fresh investment.
The senior care sector is seeking insurance expansion and GST relief. We welcome the government’s continued focus on strengthening financial security for senior citizens, including the tax reforms supporting retirement savings and long-term financial planning. A key intervention would be expanding insurance coverage to include long-term care provided through care homes and home-based services, which would significantly improve access. Strengthening reverse mortgage norms to allow up to 80% of property value across city tiers could also enhance financial flexibility for seniors, said Rajit Mehta, Managing Director and CEO, Antara Senior Care.
In addition, exempting senior care services from GST, or taxing them at healthcare rates, would recognize their role in enabling healthy ageing. Farm unions have also renewed their call for universal MSP and a bigger push on investment. Ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27, farmers have once again reiterated their demand to cover all agricultural crops under the minimum support price (MSP). Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) National General Secretary Chaudhary Yudhvir Singh said this has always been a key demand of farmers.
Currently, the government sets MSPs for about 22 crops, including 14 Kharif crops, six Rabi crops, and two commercial crops, to support farmer incomes. Sugarcane is covered under a separate mechanism called the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP).
