Sachin Tayal, Managing Director, Protiviti Member Firm for India, shared his view on the recent budget.
“The 2026 Budget clearly signals an intent to drive India’s growth towards a more sustainable and future-ready economy. An important provision has been made for data centers and cloud service providers operating in India, which offers a long-term tax holiday. This strengthens India’s goal of becoming a global center for cloud, AI, and data-led services and makes digital infrastructure a national priority. It is a significant step toward expanding the digital economy, drawing in international investment, and producing skilled jobs.
The budget signals a commitment to steady, sustainable, and broadly distributed growth. By prioritising areas such as MSMEs, manufacturing, skills development, green energy, and digital systems, the intent is to foster innovation across the entire economy rather than confining it to a limited number of major sectors. Furthermore, the persistent focus on ESG principles underscores the belief that contemporary growth must be grounded in transparency, trust, and robust governance.
For businesses, policy intent now needs to be matched with execution. Companies must strengthen their operating models, manage risks better, use technology responsibly, and invest in cybersecurity and compliance. Companies that will combine growth with resilience and strong governance will be best equipped to compete on a global scale and make a significant contribution to establishing India’s long-term economic leadership.”