India Inc's Budget 2026 Wishlist: Jobs, Capex, Exports Top Priorities

• FICCI's pre-Budget survey reveals India Inc. is optimistic about economic prospects, with 80% of companies confident.
• Job creation is the top priority (71% respondents), followed by continued public capital expenditure (61%) to sustain growth.
• Industry expects GDP growth of 7-8% in FY27 and supports fiscal consolidation, with 42% expecting the FY26 deficit target to be met.
• Key sectoral focus areas include infrastructure, manufacturing (especially Industry 4.0), and defence.
• Businesses also seek stronger export support, reduced regulatory compliances, R&D promotion, and tax simplification.

Why It Matters: India Inc. prioritizes job creation, public capex, and export support in Budget 2026 amidst global uncertainty.