Budget Breaks-2025: Ultimate Insights from Startup Gurus of India

On Healthcare Industry

Raja S, Founder and Managing Director, Hearzap

“The healthcare sector in India is experiencing tremendous progress, as we look forward to the 2025-2026 budget, it is vital to maintain this momentum by addressing key areas such as rural healthcare infrastructure, digital health adoption, and fostering public-private partnerships. Expanding resources for primary and preventive care, coupled with targeted investments in training and research, will not only bolster the healthcare system but also drive economic growth. India’s ability to deliver affordable and accessible healthcare for its vast population relies on consistent and strategic efforts.”

On Real Estate Industry:

Vaibhav Khanna, CEO & Co-Founder of Ezstays: "Student housing is emerging as a distinct and promising asset class in Indian real estate. We anticipate measures in the budget to incentivize private and institutional investors to explore this segment, such as tax benefits for REITs focused on student housing. The co-living and student housing sector in India is projected to grow at a CAGR of 17% by 2027, highlighting its potential. Recognizing and supporting this asset class would bridge the gap in quality accommodations and create long-term value for students and investors alike."

On ESG Industry

Rajesh Patel, Co-founder & CEO of Snowkap: “As India shifts towards a greener economy, the upcoming budget holds a great potential to drive sustainability and climate action. A key area of focus should be climate risk management, underpinned by initiatives like RB-CRIS. Additionally, the government should consider policies that encourage businesses to integrate ESG principles deeply into their operations. This not only boosts their resilience but also unlocks significant long-term value and attracts responsible global investors.

By continuing to reduce duties on renewable energy, the government is not only advancing its climate commitments but also encouraging innovation and investment in green technologies aligning with India's net-zero ambition by 2070.”

Anu Chaudhary, Partner and Global Head of ESG Consulting, Uniqus Consultech: “As India launches its Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) and embarks on its Net Zero Journey, the focus will be on access to clean and green technologies across sectors. Industries covered under CCTS are also subject to international regulations like CBAM, which attract carbon taxes on exports. One of the objectives of CCTS is to offset such taxes. Decarbonizing the sectors under CCTS would require access to clean technologies at costs that can help them stay globally competitive. The Union budget needs to prioritize establishing mechanisms to access global funds for technology innovation and promote the development of affordable and scalable clean tech solutions by domestic MSMEs. We believe that providing financial incentives to companies, such as improved Performance Linked Incentives (PLI) and promoting research and development in cleaner technologies, will be vital to meeting India’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.”