Buoyed by solid fundamentals, India’s business community is optimistic about 7-8% GDP growth in 2026-27, as per FICCI’s pre-budget survey launched in New Delhi. With 80% expressing confidence in economic prospects, the poll – ahead of the 2026-27 budget – highlights resilience against global uncertainties.
Some 50% predict 7-8% expansion next fiscal, and 42% trust the 4.4% GDP fiscal deficit goal for 2025-26 will hold.
Budget wishlist centers on employment generation, infrastructure acceleration, and export enhancement. Priority domains: infrastructure, manufacturing, defense, MSMEs. Sustained capex and manufacturing focus is non-negotiable.
For electronics, a mega cluster is key, clustering OEMs, EMS providers, component firms. Defense manufacturing: elevate capex to 30%, advance UAVs, counter-UAVs, electronic warfare, AI integrations.
Drone sector: Scale PLI to ₹1,000 crore, add ₹1,000 crore R&D fund. Exports grapple with trade tensions, tariffs, non-tariff walls like CBAM – call for seamless trade facilitation, customs reforms, logistics/port decongestion, robust incentives and refunds.
Direct taxes: Simplify, digitize, assure certainty, hasten resolutions, minimize disputes; facilitate corporate reorganizations and investments.
The survey embodies industry’s vision for a pro-growth budget fostering jobs, competition, and global value chain integration through targeted reforms and prudent finances.