Gautam Singhania, CMD of Raymond Group, said, “The Budget presents a timely opportunity to accelerate India’s progress toward ‘Viksit Bharat’ while reinforcing the domestic consumption cycle. Measures that support consumer sentiment and disposable incomes can provide a meaningful boost to demand across sectors such as retail and real estate.” At the same time, Singhania underlined the importance of deepening ‘Make in India’ for global markets, observing that with the India–EU FTA on the horizon, strengthening export competitiveness in traditional sectors such as textiles, alongside a calibrated shift towards high-value manufacturing, will be critical.
“As global supply chains continue to realign, India is well placed to scale in advanced manufacturing segments such as aerospace and defence. Policy support that encourages technology adoption and capital efficiency will enable Indian manufacturers to move from assembly led operations to becoming integral partners in global value chains. A Budget that balances fiscal discipline with an emphasis on manufacturing scale will reinforce India’s position as a trusted alternative in the global economy,” Singhania added.
Suketu Shah, CEO of Vishal Fabrics Ltd, commented, “The last year’s Budget laid a strong foundation for the textile sector, with tangible outcomes in 2025 through improved exports, GST rationalisation, expansion of the PLI scheme and faster execution of PM MITRA Parks. The ₹5,272 crore allocation supported domestic manufacturing, infrastructure modernisation and global competitiveness. The Union Budget 2026 should build on this momentum with greater emphasis on modern technology and machinery, higher allocations for R&D and innovation, and a sharper focus on the cotton value chain covering productivity, quality and sustainability.” He also called for controlled garment imports, smoother export processes through platforms such as BharatTradeNet, better access to export credit and progressive labour policies to strengthen India’s position in global textiles.
Sanjay Gandhi, Group CFO of Pearl Global Industries Ltd, said, “As we look at the Union Budget 2026, our expectation is for policies that strengthen India’s competitiveness in global apparel trade. Progress on Free Trade Agreements with key markets such as the UK and the European Union would be a meaningful catalyst, helping to address long-standing duty disadvantages and enabling Indian exporters to compete on a more level playing field.”
“We also see value in policy continuity around export-linked schemes, faster duty remission, and sustained support for integrated textile infrastructure. Initiatives such as PM MITRA and targeted manufacturing incentives are important enablers for companies like ours to invest in capacity, compliance and workforce development across emerging regions of the country. A stable and predictable policy environment, combined with investments in logistics efficiency and skilling, will empower Indian exporters to capture a larger share of global sourcing opportunities as demand normalises,” Gandhi further added.
The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has urged the government to place demand and consumption at the centre of Budget 2026–27. It said lower personal taxes and targeted reliefs can raise disposable incomes, strengthen consumer sentiment and create a multiplier effect across the economy. RAI has also sought growth-oriented policies, simplified regulations, skill development initiatives and rationalised GST norms to improve ease of doing business for retailers.
RAI highlighted the need for low-cost finance for retailers, particularly MSMEs, through a dedicated SIDBI-backed retail finance scheme and a special fund for retail MSMEs. It also called for wider adoption of digital payments by waiving MDR on debit cards, promoting low-cost digital payment solutions and supporting innovation in payment technologies.
Tejasvi Madan, founder of women’s D2C label Beyond Bound, said: “As a young brand building in India’s fast-moving apparel space, we’re hoping this Budget brings more practical support for manufacturing-led and D2C startups. Easier access to working capital, lower interest rates, and simpler compliance processes would make a real difference in how early-stage companies plan and grow. A more uniform GST structure across apparel categories would also remove a lot of day-to-day friction and help homegrown labels stay competitive.
“We’d also love to see focused incentives for women-led startups and businesses that create meaningful employment for women, something the apparel sector is uniquely positioned to do. And as sustainability becomes non-negotiable, encouragement for eco-friendly materials and ethical manufacturing can help brands like ours stay aligned with global standards without increasing costs. Strengthening MSMEs and supply-chain infrastructure would complete the picture and truly empower India’s fashion entrepreneurs to build for the long term.”
Taken together, industry voices suggest that Budget 2026-27 will be closely watched for signals on consumption support, export competitiveness, manufacturing incentives and regulatory simplification, as apparel, textiles and retail sectors seek to align near-term recovery with India’s longer-term growth ambitions.
ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)
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