Ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held the first pre-budget consultation meeting with leading economists on Monday, November 10. The discussion was also attended by Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran, along with several other economists and senior officials from the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA).
As part of the ongoing pre-budget consultations, the government is conducting a series of meetings with industry representatives to collect inputs for the forthcoming Union Budget. These discussions are centered on enhancing the ease of doing business and ensuring that tax benefits reach the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the government to introduce comprehensive tax reforms in the Union Budget 2026–27, focusing on faster dispute resolution, a simplified TDS regime, and a digital customs system.
CII Director-General Chandrajit Banerjee emphasized the need for a trust-based, technology-driven compliance framework and a shift from a dispute-driven to a dispute-preventive tax system that promotes investment, innovation, and competitiveness.
In the coming weeks, the government is likely to hold further discussions with various industry bodies before finalising the proposals for the Union Budget.
