The Union Budget 2025 has laid the foundation for a future-driven India by prioritizing geospatial infrastructure, deep-tech innovation, AI, healthcare, and manufacturing. Industry leaders across sectors have welcomed the strategic allocations, including the ₹20,000 crore investment in private-sector-led R&D, expansion of medical education, AI Centers of Excellence, and increased credit support for startups and MSMEs. Experts believe these measures will accelerate technological advancements, enhance India’s global competitiveness, and drive economic growth. Here’s what industry stalwarts have to say about the budget’s impact on their respective domains.
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India
“A big thank you to our Hon. Finance Minister for announcing several programs as part of the budget for 2025-26 to give a boost to the geospatial sector. The most important one is the setting up of the National Geospatial Mission to develop foundational geospatial infrastructure and data to facilitate land records modernization, urban planning, and infrastructure design. The users in the government, private sector, and the industry have lived with the lack of good foundational data for a very long time. I believe this announcement will provide the necessary resources to create geospatial data that will serve as a foundation for social and economic development. By improving productivity across sectors such as agriculture, natural resources, energy generation and distribution, rural and urban initiatives, and governance, this effort will drive meaningful progress. Investment in research and development fuels economic growth, improves quality of life, and shapes the future. Rs 20,000 crore investment to drive private sector-led R&D and innovation, funds for Deeptech research, 10,000 fellowships under the PM Research Fellowship Scheme, and Rs 500 crore investment for a CoE in AI for education, are transformative steps to make India more competitive at the global level in terms of innovation and IP creation. Overall, the budget has set strong grounds for equipping India with the skills and resources necessary to navigate the evolving global landscape and achieve its vision of being a technologically advanced and prosperous nation.”
Satish Kannan, Co-founder & CEO, MediBuddy
“The Union Budget 2025-2026 takes some progressive steps toward strengthening India’s healthcare and startup ecosystem. The addition of 10,000 medical education seats in the next year and expansion plans for 75,000 seats over the next five years will help bridge the doctor-patient ratio gap, ensuring better healthcare access. Furthermore, the inclusion of 36 life-saving drugs under full customs duty exemption and healthcare coverage for gig workers under PM Jan Arogya Yojana will make quality medical treatment more affordable.
The launch of AI Centres of Excellence, including those focused on healthcare, aligns with MediBuddy’s mission of leveraging AI-driven solutions for telemedicine, diagnostics, and personalised patient care. The increase in FDI limits for the insurance sector to 100% is a game-changer. This move will attract greater investment, foster innovation, and enhance the accessibility of insurance products, ensuring more Indians are covered under robust health insurance schemes. By allowing insurers to reinvest within the country, it will expand coverage, especially in underpenetrated segments of the population. This will enable digital healthcare platforms to collaborate more effectively with insurers, ensuring seamless access to health policies and cashless treatment.
Additionally, the ₹10,000 crore expansion of the Fund of Funds for startups and the five-year extension for incorporation benefits provide much-needed capital and policy support. These measures will empower Indian startups to develop cutting-edge healthcare solutions, improve insurance penetration, and enhance digital healthcare accessibility.
As India’s leading digital healthcare company, MediBuddy welcomes these forward-looking reforms and remains committed to making high-quality healthcare accessible to a billion people.”
Dr. Sunil K Shekhawat, CEO of SanchiConnect
“In the Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a significant boost for India’s deep tech sector, unveiling a ₹20,000 crore investment to drive private sector-led research, development, and innovation. This initiative aims to foster cutting-edge advancements across various industries, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing. Additionally, the government plans to explore the creation of a Deep Tech Fund to catalyze next-generation startups, further solidifying India’s position as a global innovation leader.
These measures are expected to enhance the availability of patient capital for deep-tech startups, enabling them to tackle complex challenges and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
By prioritizing deep tech development, the budget underscores the government’s commitment to nurturing an ecosystem that supports technological breakthroughs and sustainable progress.”
Mr. Bodhisattwa Sanghapriya, founder and CEO of IG Drones
“The Union Budget 2025-26 delivers a significant boost to deep-tech innovation, AI, and indigenous manufacturing, reinforcing the government’s vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India. The ₹20,000 crore allocation for private sector-driven R&D and the Deep Tech Fund of Funds will accelerate advancements in AI-powered drone technology, enhancing applications in surveillance, infrastructure, disaster management, and precision agriculture. A key highlight is the expansion of credit guarantee cover, which will provide much-needed financial support to startups and MSMEs. The increase in guarantee cover from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore for MSMEs and from ₹10 crore to ₹20 crore for startups will unlock additional credit worth ₹1.5 lakh crore over the next five years. This move is crucial for small and mid-sized drone manufacturers, helping them scale operations and compete in the global market. Additionally, enhanced credit support for exporter MSMEs will strengthen India’s drone export potential, positioning the country as a key player in the global UAV industry. While these initiatives are commendable, a structured roadmap integrating drone technology into agriculture and mining would unlock further potential. A dedicated Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drone manufacturing and export-friendly policies would further strengthen India’s position as a global drone technology leader. We look forward to leveraging these policy measures to scale innovation and drive impact across critical sectors.”
Mr. Satish Shukla, Co-founder, Addverb
“This year’s budget is a significant step toward making India a global hub for innovation and advanced manufacturing. The Deep Tech Fund and ₹1.5 lakh crore credit guarantees will empower MSMEs and startups to embrace automation, while expanded PLI schemes and the National Manufacturing Mission will strengthen India’s industrial backbone.
The push for AI-led skilling through Centres of Excellence and Atal Tinkering Labs aligns with the need for a future-ready workforce. At Addverb, we see this as a moment of transformation-one that reinforces our commitment to automation and robotics, driving India’s journey toward Viksit Bharat.”
