Amit Tandon, Founder and CEO, PolyCycl
“The Union Budget 2025-26 underscores the government’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, which has the potential to support innovative waste management and recycling solutions. This is a welcome step towards building cleaner, more sustainable cities and could create new opportunities for the plastic recycling industry to contribute to urban sustainability.
We look forward also to direct policy interventions aimed towards accelerating advanced plastic recycling, such as financial incentives for chemical recycling, a dedicated Product Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and GST exemptions on circular feedstocks like ISSC-certified pyrolysis oils. These measures remain critical for scaling closed-loop recycling and achieving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets of recycling 60–80% waste plastics by 2027–2028.
We remain optimistic that future policy frameworks will further integrate circular economy principles, fostering collaboration between the government and industry to drive impactful change in plastic waste management and sustainability.”
Bimal Khandelwal, CEO at STT GDC India
“Budget 2025-2026 is a great step towards a promising and bountiful future, which emphasizes on India’s commitment towards growth, innovation, and sustainability. The focus on manufacturing, clean tech, and skilling will strengthen our digital and infrastructure backbone, fueling private sector investments and job creation. Moreover, the establishment of Centers of Excellence for AI by the government and significant interest-free financing support for state infrastructure provide a strong basis for digital development.
As a digital infrastructure leader and a leading data center solutions, we welcome the emphasis on AI, deep tech, and climate-friendly development, which aligns with our vision of a smarter and a greener future. These reforms will empower enterprises and ease out business operations propelling India’s digital economy to new heights.”
Amar Nagaram, Co-Founder & CEO, VIRGIO
“The Union Budget’s focus on fostering innovation, empowering MSMEs, and strengthening India’s digital economy is a step in the right direction. The ₹500 crore allocation to deep-tech and AI innovation will be instrumental in driving AI-led advancements and data-driven solutions, enabling businesses to scale efficiently. The ₹20,000 crore investment in innovation, along with the establishment of a Deep Tech Fund, will play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of next-generation production technologies. Furthermore, the five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity will strengthen a powerful, proplanet, and premium raw material supply chain. Incentives for sustainable manufacturing and circular economy initiatives validate the growing shift towards responsible fashion. The significant enhancement of credit availability with guarantee cover for start-ups will provide crucial support for emerging businesses, while also generating employment opportunities. A progressive policy framework that supports startups will accelerate India’s journey to becoming a global hub for innovation and conscious consumption.
Jayanth Kashyap, Investment Lead, Good Fashion Fund
The Finance Minister’s vision for accelerating growth through investment in people, innovation, and sustainable manufacturing is a welcome step for the textile and apparel sector. The ₹20,000 crore investment in innovation and the establishment of a Deep Tech Fund will be instrumental in driving the adoption of next-gen technologies. This, combined with the five-year Mission for Cotton Productivity, will ensure a resilient, sustainable, and high-quality raw material pipeline—critical for advancing responsible fashion. Additionally, the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 initiative reinforces the need for human capital development, ensuring long-term economic resilience. At Good Fashion Fund, we remain committed to supporting manufacturers in India’s textile ecosystem by facilitating access to capital for sustainable and disruptive production solutions, aligning with India’s ambition to become a global hub for sustainable fashion.
Dr. Vishal Arora, Chief of Business Transformation & Operational Excellence
“The Union Budget 2025-26 focuses on affordable and technology-driven health with strengthened medical education, infrastructure, and the digital health initiative. In order to bridge the doctor-patient gap, 10,000 new UG and PG medical seats will be introduced this year. Overall, the goal would be to increase this figure to 75,000 in five years. The Day Care Cancer Centers will open in all district hospitals, starting with 200 this year, which will expand cancer care. Exemption of customs duty for 36 critical medicines, including drugs for cancer and rare diseases, will make life-saving treatments more accessible. Proposal for a reduction of GST on health insurance to make wider coverage possible is a commendable step. A ₹500 crore Centre of Excellence in AI will push medical research, and medical tourism initiatives will definitely put India on the global healthcare map. Focused on education, digital transformation, affordability, and innovation, this budget is a huge step towards universal health coverage and better patient care.”
Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq
“The 2025 Union Budget lays a strong foundation for India’s EV sector, with the National Manufacturing Mission providing crucial support for clean-tech industries, including EV batteries and high-voltage transmission equipment. This initiative will strengthen domestic manufacturing, reducing import dependence and fostering a self-reliant EV ecosystem under the ‘Make in India’ vision. The government’s continued efforts to localize EV component manufacturing will further enhance supply chain resilience and cost efficiency, making EV adoption more viable.
Additionally, the new ₹10,000 crore infusion into the ‘Fund of Funds for Startups’ is a significant step in accelerating entrepreneurship in the EV space. Such initiatives will encourage innovation in EV charging infrastructure, making charging more accessible and efficient.
However, a revision in the GST structure for charging infrastructure is still needed. Bringing them in line with the 5% GST on EVs will further catalyze growth. With continued policy support, India is poised to build a robust EV charging network, ensuring seamless adoption of electric mobility across the country.” said Mr. Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq
Suyash Gupta, Director General of the Indian Auto LPG Coalition
“Budget 2025 is a commendable step towards the overall growth of our economy, with a notable push towards clean tech and electric vehicle (EV) growth, as highlighted by the Finance Minister. However, it is important to note that in the realm of clean mobility, the focus has predominantly been on EVs, while other clean alternatives such as Auto LPG, hydrogen, and bio-fuel have been overlooked. Additionally, the budget could have done more to address the critical issue of urban pollution, which could be significantly alleviated by integrating these alternative fuels. As the detailed provisions are yet to be revealed, there was an expectation for announcements aimed at fostering the integration of cleaner and more affordable alternative fuels into public mobility policies.
Recognizing that achieving net-zero goals is a gradual process, leveraging readily available solutions like Auto LPG could have played a significant role in addressing both pollution in cities and promoting green growth, aligning with the budget’s envisioned objectives. The inclusion of Auto LPG, hydrogen, and bio-fuel in public mobility policies would have further diversified our clean energy portfolio and accelerated our transition towards a sustainable future.” said Mr. Suyash Gupta, Director General of the Indian Auto LPG Coalition
Ishaan Parwanda, Director, Trinity Touch
“I am glad to see the government’s strong focus on consumption in this year’s budget, as it will ultimately drive the EV market forward. Consumers will decide which EVs to buy, and this will have a significant positive impact on the industry. The exemption of certain capital goods for EV battery manufacturing is a welcome step, as it will help reduce production costs and make EVs more affordable in India.
With lower taxes putting more money into consumers’ pockets, we can expect higher spending in the EV sector. The tax exemption threshold, which stood at ₹2.5 lakh in 2014, has now risen to ₹12 lakh, freeing up substantial disposable income. Over the next three quarters, we should see this translate into greater momentum for charge point operators, two-wheelers, and four-wheelers. With multiple car manufacturers launching new EV models this year, the market is poised for significant growth.
That said, I had hoped for more on the capital expenditure front and additional exemptions for component manufacturers, particularly for smaller-scale projects. While many incentives exist for large-scale initiatives, similar support for smaller players is still missing. Nevertheless, this budget lays a strong foundation, and I am optimistic that further refinements will come in due course.” said Mr. Ishaan Parwanda, Director, Trinity Touch
Ankit Sharma, CEO & Co-Founder, Vidyuta
Budget 2025 has been a significant step forward for the green mobility sector, providing much-needed growth for the Electric Vehicle industry. We are thrilled with the announcement of a new manufacturing mission under the Make in India initiative, which will support small, medium, and large industries with comprehensive policy backing and a detailed framework. This mission will also champion clean tech and build an ecosystem for solar cells, EV batteries, and high-voltage transmission equipment.
Moreover, we welcome the Finance Minister’s proposal to fully exempt Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on cobalt powder, lithium-ion battery waste, scrap, and 12 other critical minerals. This initiative aims to secure the availability of these materials for manufacturing in India and create job opportunities for the youth.
However, we were hoping for a revision in the GST rates for lithium-ion batteries and EV charging infrastructure to match the 5% GST on electric vehicles. Currently, while EVs are taxed at 5%, batteries and charging services are subject to an 18% GST.
The introduction of the new ‘Fund of Funds for Startups’ with an additional Rs. 10,000 crore, on top of the existing Rs. 10,000 crore, will power entrepreneurship and significantly boost our manufacturing capabilities. Initiatives like these are crucial for fostering innovation and driving India towards a sustainable and green future,”
Raj K Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder & CEO, KOGO AI
“The 2025 budget just gave India’s AI scene a bit of an adrenaline shot. ₹20,000 crore across two ‘fund of funds’ is exactly the kind of fuel AI startups need to go big, build smarter, and solve real-world problems at scale. This isn’t just about catching up—it’s about putting India in the driver’s seat of AI innovation, especially in areas like security, inclusivity, and cracking the language barriers that global AI models still struggle with,” said Raj K Gopalakrishnan, Co-Founder & CEO of KOGO AI.
“But what really stands out? The talent pipeline. Expanding IIT seats and rolling out AI-focused fellowships at IITs and IISc is a killer move. Right now, the world is in a full-blown AI talent crunch, and this is India’s shot at not just filling that gap but owning it. This budget doesn’t just set the stage—it hands startups and young innovators the mic to build AI that’s not just cutting-edge but straight-up game-changing on a global level”
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