Budget 2026: Tech Sector Eyes AI, Cybersecurity, Manufacturing Boost

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Budget 2026 on February 1, 2026, with the tech sector having high expectations.
• Industry stakeholders anticipate an enhanced PLI 2.0 scheme with a Rs 10,000 crore outlay for advanced panel and laser projection manufacturing, aiming to reduce import dependence.
• A dedicated fund for vocational training in semiconductors, display tech, and assembly lines is expected to skill 5 lakh youth and create 2 million jobs.
• The tech sector seeks continued support for AI research and development, including grants, incentives, and policy measures for enterprise AI adoption.
• Expectations include treating AI, cloud, cybersecurity, and deep tech as national digital infrastructure with strategic allocation for compute capacity and data center expansion.

Why It Matters: India's tech sector anticipates Budget 2026 to boost manufacturing, AI, and cybersecurity through incentives and policy.