The FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) expressed appreciation for the Union Budget 2026, describing it as a women-centric and MSME-led growth strategy. President of FLO, Poonam Sharma, praised the budget for its focus on continuity, credibility, and conviction, emphasizing the importance of fiscal discipline alongside inclusive growth. Sharma highlighted the budget’s emphasis on women, MSMEs, and manufacturing, aiming to foster long-term capacity and progress for women entrepreneurs and professionals.
Applauding the budget’s attention to women-led development, Sharma stressed the significance of establishing a robust care ecosystem, including initiatives like training multiskilled caregivers, strengthening health institutions, and expanding geriatric and mental health services. These efforts are expected to enhance women’s workforce participation significantly.
The budget also includes measures such as setting up girls’ hostels in every district, improving access to STEM education, introducing SHE Marts for women entrepreneurs, and providing targeted support for Divyangjan livelihoods. These initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to people-centric and inclusive growth, according to Sharma.
FICCI FLO welcomed the government’s comprehensive approach to bolstering MSMEs, which includes initiatives like the Rs 10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, enhanced liquidity through TReDS and credit guarantees, and the introduction of Corporate Mitras to aid compliance, especially in Tier II and Tier III towns. These measures are anticipated to benefit women-led MSMEs significantly by facilitating access to finance, reducing procedural complexities, and enhancing scale and competitiveness.
Sharma also highlighted the budget’s continued focus on manufacturing, industrial corridors, logistics, clean energy, and public capital expenditure. These efforts are seen as strengthening India’s growth fundamentals and positioning the nation as a global manufacturing hub. The reforms aimed at simplifying tax compliance, trust-based governance, and ease of doing business are expected to particularly support first-generation entrepreneurs and small businesses.
