Union Budget 2026: Women Founders Share Budget Expectations

By: WE Staff

Pavneet Kaur Chimni, Co-Founder & CMO at Ceuticoz: An entrepreneur in medical-grade skincare, she focuses on global growth, building international partnerships, and creating purpose-driven teams, while championing science-backed, accessible skincare solutions with a strong emphasis on leadership and sustainable growth.

The retail cosmeceutical industry in India is undergoing significant change, with female consumers at its core. Women today are more informed and are actively choosing skincare products that are clinically proven and recommended by dermatologists and prioritizing long-term skin health over short-term cosmetic fixes. This shift is evident in all retail touchpoints, from pharmacies and contemporary trade to rapidly expanding digital platforms, indicating a market that is evolving and prioritizing science.

As a woman entrepreneur in this sector, I strongly believe the Union Budget 2026 presents an opportunity to formally acknowledge cosmeceuticals as a healthcare-adjective category rather than merely a beauty segment. By promoting responsible growth, innovation, and greater access to efficient skincare products, such policy recognition would unlock the sector’s full potential.

From both retail and manufacturing perspectives, GST rationalization on science- backed skincare and a clear regulatory distinction between cosmetic and therapeutic products are critical. These steps will enhance affordability, accelerate retail expansion, and empower brands to invest confidently in R& D, quality, and innovation. By encouraging domestic manufacturing and export readiness, India & beauty-pharma ecosystem will be strengthened, and dependency on imported active ingredients will be reduced.

In parallel, sustained investments in the retail infrastructure will be essential to translating this policy intent into scalable growth. This can be achieved by strengthening logistics, warehousing, and more digital enablement, which will help in ensuring wider access to dermatologist-led and science-backed skincare. A progressive and well-defined policy framework will help India to emerge as a global hub for science-led, high-efficacy cosmeceuticals.