Union Budget 2025 | Startup founders and industry experts' expectations from Finance Minister
As we approach the Union Budget 2025, industry experts expect significant anticipation for tax reforms and job creation initiatives. They also wish that the government should promote employment linked incentives, reviving private capex and restoring government spending among others.
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Nirmala Sitharaman, the Finance Minister, will present 8th consecutive Union Budget on February 1, 2025. Experts from several industries have shared their expectations for the 2019 Union Budget. Similarly, startup founders have their own Wishlist for Budget 2025.
Let's take a look at the expectations of venture capital firms and startups from the Finance Minister.
Somdutta Singh, founder & CEO of e-commerce firm Assiduss
"As the Union Budget 2025-26 approaches, I can’t help but think about the ripple effects it could have across industries. This year, I’m hopeful for a budget that truly empowers innovation, drives inclusion, and sets the stage for sustainable economic growth. One sector that exemplifies this vision is e-commerce, which has transformed how we live, work, and shop."
Abhishek Dua, CEO & co-founder, Showroom B2B
“The upcoming Budget 2025-26 presents an opportunity to enhance India's industrial capabilities by expanding the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. Incorporating high-demand sub-sectors, including retail, India can attract substantial investments and reduce import dependency. Simplifying processes for MSMEs through streamlined applications and performance-linked benchmarks will attract investments, reduce import dependency, and strengthen their role in the value chain."
Ajay Lakhotia, founder & CEO, StockGro
"As we approach the Union Budget 2025, there is significant anticipation for tax reforms and job creation initiatives. A key expectation is raising standard deduction limit in income tax, which would provide essential relief to middle-class families and boost disposable income, encouraging greater economic participation.
Sandeep Agrawalfounder of Teamlease Regtech
"The government should promote employment linked incentives especially in employment-intensive sectors such as construction, tourism, textiles, & low-skilled manufacturing to boost employment generation. Additionally, the government is expected to prioritize labor reforms, with a strong emphasis on gig workers. With the gig economy rapidly expanding, protecting this workforce is crucial to ensure fair wages, job security, and social benefits."
Saurav Ghosh, co-founder, Jiraaf
"This budget is critical, with weak urban consumption. Reviving private capex and restoring government spending would be key to supporting the economy. In terms of Government Capex, the continued focus on long-term infrastructure and development projects is expected to carve out an optimistic path for the long run. We hope the budget would have taxation cuts to enable spending. Tax reduction on debt securities could enable capital markets to help lower finance cost for companies providing a trigger for private capex."
Saahil Goel, MD & CEO, Shiprocket
“Indian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a pivotal role in driving the nation’s economic growth, contributing significantly to GDP and employment generation. Accounting for approximately 30% of India’s GDP, the MSME sector comprises over 63 million units, ranging from traditional industries to high-growth startups. This sector is the backbone of India’s manufacturing and service industries, contributing nearly 50% to the country's total exports. By leveraging digital transformation and government initiatives like "Make in India" and "Aatmanirbhar Bharat," Indian MSMEs are poised to amplify their contribution to GDP growth, driving India closer to its $5 trillion economy target."
Anish Shah, chief financial officer, Zee Learn
"In the coming year, the education sector in India is poised for significant growth and development, driven by the implementation of NEP 2020 and the increasing adoption of online and digital education. NEP stresses the importance of foundational literacy and numeracy, hence there will be more impetus. A substantial increase in the education budget is essential to address educational institutions' scarcity of human resources. Collaboration between educational institutions and edtech entities can extend digital education to the masses, offering programs, upskilling courses and employment opportunities. The use of AI in education is expected to transform the learning experience, making it more personalized, interactive and effective. Therefore, it’s essential to harness the potential of AI to improve student outcomes, enhance the teaching experience, and prepare students for success in an AI-driven world."
Saurabh Arora, Founder & CEO, University Living
"To support students and their families, the government should consider targeted measures in the upcoming Union Budget. First, increasing the provision of collateral-free loans by PSU banks for university education, along with expanding access to other collateral-based loans, can provide much-needed financial relief. Second, remittances sent back to India by students who eventually secure global employment will rise significantly, alleviating fears of trade imbalances in the long term."
Aritra Ghosal, Founder & Director, OneStep Global
"As we approach the Union Budget 2025-26, we anticipate measures that will further strengthen India’s education landscape and position the country as a global leader in talent mobility. Expanding financial support for students pursuing international education, such as reducing tax collection at source (TCS) rates and increasing subsidies, can empower students to access world-class learning opportunities abroad. At the same time, streamlining regulatory frameworks to attract foreign universities to establish campuses in India will create globally competitive, affordable education options domestically."
Abhijit Zaveri, Founder and Director, Career Mosaic
"As we approach the upcoming budget announcement, we are optimistic about its potential to unlock new opportunities for international student mobility. India’s study abroad sector is witnessing significant growth, and we anticipate initiatives that foster greater collaboration between Indian and international universities. The development of GIFT City, for example, has already shown promise in creating new avenues for academic exchange and research. This initiative and a budget that prioritizes global education could significantly enhance cross-cultural learning and bolster India's leadership in STEM fields. A forward-looking budget will empower India’s vibrant youth, positioning the country at the forefront of international academic collaboration."
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