Union Budget 2026: Women Leaders Share Sectoral Expectations

By: WE staff

A Real Estate perspective: Targeted Policy Intervention to Address Structural Challenges

Ankita Sood, National Director- Research, Knight Frank India: A real estate research and marketing expert with 15+ years’ experience, known for building analytics functions, authoring 100+ publications, driving media visibility and developing industry benchmarks.

“As India approaches the Union Budget FY 2026-27, the housing sector needs targeted policy intervention to address emerging structural challenges. While residential demand has shown resilience, affordable housing continues to lag due to declining affordability, rising construction costs, and limited end-user incentives. Without timely recalibration, demand in this critical segment risks remaining subdued.

There is a pressing need to align housing incentives with current urban cost realities, particularly in major cities where price thresholds are no longer market-relevant. Focused fiscal support for homebuyers, coupled with measures that enhance project viability, can help revive both demand and supply. Equally important is the development of a robust, formal rental housing ecosystem. A supportive regulatory and fiscal framework can unlock underutilised housing stock, improve workforce mobility, and attract long-term institutional capital. Continued investment in urban infrastructure and mass transit will be key to expanding affordable land supply and enabling inclusive urban growth.”

A Tech Perspective: Catalyst for India’s Next Phase of GCC Maturity

Radhika Chennakeshavula, CIO, Silicon Labs: A Customer & People-focused leader, armed with over 25 years of experience in value creation. Her credentials include a Six Sigma Black Belt and Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification.

“As a CIO who has built and led Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India across semiconductors and global manufacturing, I view the Union Budget as a catalyst for India’s next phase of GCC maturity. Beyond talent development, focused investments in hybrid digital infrastructure—integrating cloud, edge, and secure on-prem environments—are critical for hosting mission-critical and regulated workloads. Flexible policy frameworks that respond to evolving geopolitical realities, data sovereignty, and supply chain resilience will further strengthen India’s global relevance. Continued incentives for R&D, semiconductor design, and deep-tech innovation, coupled with ease of compliance and global interoperability, can help India emerge as a resilient, trusted, and innovation-led GCC destination.”