Neel AcharyShrinivas Rao, FRICS, CEO, Vestian
“The Union Budget 2026 should prioritise strengthening India’s economic fundamentals to effectively navigate global uncertainties. Accelerated development of tier-2 cities through enhanced infrastructure and improved connectivity with major urban centres is imperative and will require increased private sector participation. Granting industry status to real estate would improve access to institutional financing and catalyse private investment. Further, monetising government land, refining the definition of affordable housing, and promoting mixed-use developments would support sustainable, inclusive, and efficient urban growth. Additionally, the introduction of a central-level GCC policy is essential to establish a structured framework and sustain the long-term growth of Global Capability Centres in India.”
Mr Amit Goyal, Managing Director, India Sotheby’s International Realty
This Union Budget comes at a critical moment, as a new global order is taking shape. India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world, but the challenges are visible. The government will have to walk a fine balance between maintaining fiscal discipline to keep borrowing costs under control, while continuing to support growth and investment. Both are essential as India seeks to realise its ambition of becoming the world’s third-largest economy and a USD 5 trillion economy.
From a real estate perspective, the momentum of 2025 was unmistakable. However, for this momentum to sustain, buoyancy in the equity markets—which reflect overall economic strength, business investment sentiment, and foreign capital inflows—must remain strong. It is imperative for the Budget to announce measures that will encourage greater FDI into the country.
Equally important are strong budgetary allocations for urban development. Improving liveability in Indian cities is no longer optional. Challenges such as air pollution, water quality, waste management, and urban infrastructure gaps directly influence quality of life, long-term real estate investment confidence, and sustainability of growth. Addressing these issues meaningfully will be critical to supporting both economic expansion and India’s evolving urban aspirations.
Mr Tanuj Shori, Founder and CEO, Square Yards
The Indian housing market is clearly moving out of a luxury-led upcycle and into a more value-driven phase, with the mid-income segment poised to anchor growth as premium demand begins to stabilise. From the Union Budget 2026, a sharper focus is expected on improving affordability through enhanced tax relief for mid-income homebuyers, higher interest deduction limits, and sustained investment in urban infrastructure.
Equally important is policy support that encourages supply in the affordable and mid-market segments, as recent launches have been disproportionately skewed towards higher ticket sizes. A Budget aligned to these realities can strengthen end-user demand, improve price-to-income dynamics, and support a more balanced and sustainable phase of urban housing growth.
