Shreepoorna S Rao, Founder & CEO, Arctus Aerospace

“Budget 2026 signals a clear shift in how India views aerospace and deep-tech manufacturing. The emphasis on R&D incentives, domestic component ecosystems, and easier access to capital for high-tech startups directly strengthens companies building complex platforms like high-altitude UAVs. What’s encouraging is the recognition that strategic sectors need long-term patient capital and testing infrastructure, not just subsidies. If executed well, this budget can materially accelerate India’s transition from being an importer of aerospace systems to becoming a global developer of critical aerial and Earth intelligence technologies”.