Budget 2026 Expectations: Why Union Budget 2026 Must Do More Than Tax Cuts For Indian Investors?

Over the years, financial market reforms across the personal finance ecosystem have meaningfully encouraged broader participation from retail investors. This has delivered a powerful dual benefit—channeling household savings into the nation's growth story while simultaneously strengthening the long-term financial security of the average Indian family.

Equally important has been the government's focus on providing basic necessities such as food, shelter, healthcare, and social security. When these fundamentals are addressed at the grassroots, it naturally frees up room for savings and long-term investing, even at the bottom of the economic pyramid. Coupled with tax reforms and digitization, compliance has become simpler, and the overall burden has eased for many taxpayers.

As we approach the Union Budget 2026, Mr. Sachin Jain, Managing Partner, Scripbox has shared his personal wishlist and key expectations from a personal finance perspective. Sachin Jain brings a retail investor-first perspective, working closely with salaried professionals, first-time investors, retirees, and NRIs, making his views grounded in real household financial behaviour.

Regulatory harmonisation:

While SEBI has consistently worked in the interest of retail investors—through cost rationalisation, transparency, and technology-led adoption—similar intent and reforms are needed in the insurance and pension sectors. Resolving long-standing regulatory anomalies and creating a level playing field will significantly benefit the average investor.

Advisor ecosystem reform:

Cost rationalisation has led to saturation and pressure at the advisor level. To truly serve the masses, it is essential to incentivise ethical and qualified advisors who do the right thing for clients. At the same time, strong and visible penal action against unscrupulous players is critical to protect small investors and build trust in the system.

Investor protection in a digital world:

The rise in financial scams, unauthorised use of personal data, and misuse of consumer consent are serious concerns. Strengthening safeguards around data privacy, fraud prevention, and accountability must be an immediate priority.

Focused attention on NRIs:

NRIs are an important and growing segment of Indian capital markets. With changing global tax rules and cross-border regulations, clearer, simpler, and more consistent frameworks are needed to encourage long-term participation without friction.

Leveraging GIFT City:

The GIFT City framework has immense potential to fund domestic growth at scale. Extending its scope and incentives thoughtfully can help attract both global and Indian capital more efficiently.

Tax rationalisation in fixed income:

Post-tax yields on fixed income instruments remain a major challenge, especially for retirees in higher tax brackets who depend on predictable income. Targeted concessions or rationalisation here would provide much-needed relief.

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