Union Budget 2026: What Are The Common People Expecting?

With the Union Budget 2026 announcement approaching, expectations across different sectors, be it education, health, income tax, or social welfare, are high. Over the past few years, the Budget has shown intent in areas like digital learning, skilling, and innovation. This year, it is expected to be more inclusive towards community-driven projects and strengthen the existing system with adequate measures.

Woman Entrepreneurs

Women-led businesses are increasingly contributing to India’s economy, creating jobs and building sustainable enterprises. However, many women entrepreneurs continue to face structural challenges, especially when it comes to access to credit and complex compliance requirements.

Rachel J Amirtharaj, fashion designer and Founder of La Fantaisie, believes Budget 2026 must address these gaps. She points to the need for easier access to finance, sharper tax incentives, and dedicated investment platforms for women-led startups.

"Simplifying compliance and offering early-stage tax relief, she says, would help more women formalise their businesses, scale up, and compete on equal footing. Supporting women entrepreneurs, she adds, is not social welfare but sound economic thinking that supports long-term growth," Amirtharaj said.

Education and Skill-Based Learning

Last year’s Union Budget allocated ₹1.28 lakh crore to the Ministry of Education with a strong emphasis on AI-led learning. These measures aimed to prepare students for the fast-evolving job market through technology-enabled skilling.

Looking ahead, education leaders expect the next Budget to deepen this focus. Anil Kapasi, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Arihant Academy, says Budget 2026 should further strengthen skill-based education, digital literacy, and teacher empowerment.

"Greater emphasis is likely to be placed on skill-based education, digital literacy, and teacher empowerment, alongside addressing infrastructure gaps, expanding inclusive access, and promoting stronger industry-academia links for enhanced employability this year," Kapasi said.

He added, "Continued support for schemes such as Samagra Shiksha, PM-POSHAN, and PM SHRI, combined with a broader focus on holistic development (arts, sports, ethics, and student well-being), will be crucial to driving balanced and inclusive growth across both rural and urban India.”

Social Sectors

Non-governmental organisations continue to play a critical role in addressing social needs across healthcare, education, hunger relief, and community welfare. Despite their impact, many NGOs face uncertainty due to complex regulations and unclear tax structures.

Geetanjali Chopra, Founder and President, Wishes & Blessings NGO, said, "As the Union Budget approaches, we expect policies that strengthen India’s ecosystem of giving. Clearer and more beneficial tax incentives for donors, along with simpler and more transparent compliance rules for NGOs."

Chopra shared that ambiguity around what counts as tax-eligible donations often creates unnecessary challenges for both donors and civil society organisations. She added, "Predictable CSR partnerships, greater regulatory clarity and exemption of NGOs from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would help organisations plan better and scale their impact."

Looking Ahead

As expectations build around Union Budget 2026, voices across sectors are calling for continuity with purpose. Whether it is strengthening classrooms, supporting women entrepreneurs, or enabling social organisations to do their work more effectively, the hope is that this year’s Budget moves beyond announcements and focuses on real, on-ground impact.

Views expressed by the author are their own.