Reactions of Pune’s corporate leaders on the union budget presented on 1 Feb.
Leading industry heads in Pune have welcomed the union budget 2025-26 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman on Saturday, saying that the proposals will give impetus to the economy by encouraging manufacturig while taking care to keep it in step with the latest advances in technogy at the global level. Changes in the personal income tax structure will put more money in the hands of consumers, giving boost to demand across sectors such as consumer goods, travel, tourism and apparels. Sunshine Pune brings to its readers their detailed views.
Niranjan Kirloskar, Managing Director, Fleetguard Filters Ltd.
“The Union Budget presented today, demonstrates our government’s will to boost India’s manufacturing sector. Introducing a ‘National Manufacturing Mission,’ with an 89% increased allocation to ₹16,092 crore, highlights our government’s dedication to improving domestic production capabilities. Extending PLI schemes to various sectors is a good strategic move to diversify and strengthen local manufacturing. The much-needed tax reforms, like higher exemptions and simplifying tax slabs, will improve consumer sentiment and spending, invariably stimulating demand for various manufactured goods.
Additionally, the announcement to set-up a centre for AI, and readying talent for Industry 4.0 will provide a much-needed impetus to all industries enabling crucial job-creation and for us to ‘Make in India – For the World’. Lastly, a focus on infrastructure development and digitisation will create a more favourable environment for domestic manufacturing operations. I remain optimistic that these measures will enhance our nation’s global competitiveness, and contribute to overall sustainable economic growth!”
Warren Harris, CEO & MD, Tata Technologies: “The budget’s focus on establishing a National Manufacturing Mission aligns with our goal of engineering in India for ‘Make in India’ and enhancing the nation’s self-reliance in manufacturing. This initiative is poised to attract investments and improve efficiency, positioning Indian companies as globally competitive players.
Establishment of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling is a pivotal move in building a future-ready workforce. This initiative resonates with our commitment to engineering a better future for India’s youth through investment in in-demand training programs across Industry 4.0, IoT, and advanced manufacturing, and collaborating with state governments to upgrade ITIs into technology hubs. Allocation of ₹500 crore to create a Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education underscores the importance of fostering innovation and research in AI, which will benefit both the education sector and the broader technology landscape.
Girish Tanti, Vice Chairman, Suzlon: The budget seems to be a significant step towards achieving India’s ambitious energy goals. By strengthening Aatmanirbhar Bharat across manufacturing and agriculture, with a focus on clean tech, wind, solar, EV, and battery storage, the budget aims to accelerate self-reliance in wind and solar manufacturing. The National Manufacturing Mission’s targeted support for all renewable energy sources is a welcome move, as it reinforces India’s commitment to a level playing field and ambitious energy goals. The expected outcomes are promising: surpassing the 500 GW target and creating nearly 3 million green jobs. Additionally, incentives for electricity distribution reforms and intra-state transmission upgrades will likely improve the financial health of power companies and enable better grid integration of renewables. This comprehensive approach should have a positive impact on India’s economy and population.
Saurabh Dhanorkar, Managing Director, Finolex Industries: The budget’s strong emphasis on infrastructure development, particularly through the extension of the Jal Jeevan Mission until 2028, reflects a firm commitment to sustainable water management and rural development. The focus on enhancing the quality of infrastructure and improving operation and maintenance of rural piped water supply schemes through Jan Bhagidhari is a critical step toward ensuring long-term water security. The signing of separate MoUs with states and UTs to promote citizen-centric water service delivery further reinforces this commitment. Additionally, initiatives like the Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, aimed at improving irrigation facilities, will indirectly support the growth of water infrastructure across agricultural regions. Together, these measures create significant opportunities for the piping industry to contribute to the development of robust, sustainable solutions that will benefit both rural communities and the broader infrastructure ecosystem.
