Post-Budget Scene: Sneak Peek of How Top Startup Minds Are Responding

Amit Tandon, Founder & CEO, PolyCycl

“The Union Budget 2025-26 underscores the government’s commitment to sustainability through initiatives like the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund, which has the potential to support innovative waste management and recycling solutions. This is a welcome step towards building cleaner, more sustainable cities and could create new opportunities for the plastic recycling industry to contribute to urban sustainability.

We look forward also to direct policy interventions aimed towards accelerating advanced plastic recycling, such as financial incentives for chemical recycling, a dedicated Product Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme and GST exemptions on circular feedstocks like ISSC-certified pyrolysis oils. These measures remain critical for scaling closed-loop recycling and achieving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) targets of recycling 60–80% waste plastics by 2027–2028.

We remain optimistic that future policy frameworks will further integrate circular economy principles, fostering collaboration between the government and industry to drive impactful change in plastic waste management and sustainability.”

Shrestha Kukreja, Founder, Whizzo

"This year’s budget gives a strong push to the textile sector, with allocations rising from ₹3,342 crore to ₹5,252 crore, clearly reflecting the government’s confidence in the industry’s growth potential. By removing import duties on shuttleless looms, India is not just eliminating trade barriers but driving innovation in technical textiles across Agtech, Medtech, and Geotech. This strategic move strengthens global competitiveness, fosters sustainability, and positions India to take the lead in high-performance textiles. With this momentum, India is not just investing in manufacturing; it’s putting itself on the map as a global leader in the textile industry."