Union Budget 2026–27 : Economy accelerating Budget.

 Clear Focus on Employment, Infrastructure and Exports.

Hindustan varta :

The Union Budget 2026–27 does not directly impact day-to-day prices for the common citizen, as excise duty and service tax-which earlier influenced what became cheaper or costlier-are no longer part of the Budget framework.These have been subsumed under GST, which is governed separately.

The Budget is clearly aimed at accelerating economic growth. A strong push has been given to infrastructure through higher public capital expenditure, while fiscal discipline has been maintained with the fiscal deficit capped at 4.3%. Further reduction in corporate tax reflects the Government’s intent to encourage investment and strengthen industry confidence.

From an employment perspective, the Budget places strong emphasis on the MSME sector, with a special focus on textiles. Leather and footwear-key MSME-driven sectors and among the largest employment generators-have also received meaningful support through export-oriented measures.

The Government has expanded the list of inputs under the IGCR scheme, enabling duty-free import of inputs for exports of shoe uppers. This addresses a long-standing industry demand and will significantly enhance cost competitiveness and export capability of Indian leather and footwear manufacturers.

Overall, the Union Budget 2026-27 is a balanced and forward-looking Budget, focused on long-term economic strength, investment, exports and job creation, rather than short-term populist measures.

✍️ Puran Dawar

Chairman,Development Council for Footwear & Leather Industry (DCFLI)

Regional Chairman (North),Council for Leather Exports (CLE)

Convenor, Agra Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Chamber (AFMEC)