19th July 2024- As the Union Budget approaches, expectations are high across various sectors for significant policy announcements and fiscal measures to drive economic growth. Key areas of focus include infrastructure development, tax reforms, and initiatives to boost digital transformation. Industry leaders are hopeful for increased government spending to enhance job creation and support for startups and small businesses. Additionally, there is a call for streamlined regulations and incentives to attract foreign investment, along with measures to bolster the manufacturing sector under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Comments From Industry Experts
Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures
“The venture capital industry is very young and has certain expectations from the Honourable Financial Minister. Removal of Angel Tax has been a long standing demand of the industry. Stakeholders of the ecosystem have made representation to the Govt with an aim to find a solution for the same. In most cases, the investments at early stages are made to young companies and with limited resources. It becomes tedious and non productive for everyone, more so it also discourages potential investors to invest because of fear of coming under tax authorities scrutiny. It’s a long pending demand and we wish Hon. FM takes it up in the upcoming Budget. The solution will encourage many potential tax payers to open up to the investment of this asset class.
Additionally some of the demands are long pending like favourable consideration to GST on management fee and adjustment of management fee toward expenses while calculating income or gains. The industry also demands in the current budget bringing long term gain at par with listed entities. The VC community would prefer speedier approval on overseas investment as the current process takes too long.”
Manoj Agarwal, Co- founder and Managing Partner, Seafund
“I have high hopes for the upcoming budget to strengthen the deep tech ecosystem in India. The government has made encouraging statements about supporting this sector, and I believe it is crucial to provide more backing at the seed stage. Deep tech startups often require significant research and development, which may not attract early-stage investment from the private sector. A dedicated fund of funds to support investors who are willing to take the plunge into deep tech is vital.
Additionally, simplifying the taxation framework for startups, ESOPs,and investors is essential. In many European countries, investors receive tax benefits for investing in startups, either directly or through funds. Similar provisions in India could stimulate more domestic investment. Moreover, we need to address the issue of ‘reverse flipping’ for businesses built in India but headquartered abroad. Facilitating an efficient and tax-effective way for these businesses to return to India could significantly benefit our economy and the government’s revenue in the long run. As we address these concerns, a simplified GST tax regime for the funds and doing away with angel tax will free up a lot of domestic capital towards early stage funding, which is needed today more than ever as we see funding winter thawing at a snail’s pace.”
Mr Sudeep Chandran, Founder and CEO of YOURS
Real estate is a crucial sector for the economy, and the government should introduce proposals to maintain the current upward trajectory of demand in this sector. Allocating funds for infrastructure development in metros, suburbs, tier II cities, and holiday destinations is essential to drive real estate demand.
Additionally, co-ownership and fractional ownership are becoming increasingly popular in India. The government should implement better rules and regulations, along with incentives, to regulate and promote these innovative property ownership models.
Amit Prakash Singh, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Urban Money
The real estate sector is a cornerstone of our economy, serving as one of the largest employers. We eagerly anticipate significant reforms in the upcoming budget under the new government. Securing industry status will unlock a plethora of legal and administrative benefits, along with much-needed tax incentives. Also, while government’s focus on affordable housing under PMAY is commendable, recalibrating strategies in light of escalating construction costs is imperative for sustained inclusiveness and effectiveness. Moreover, enhanced tax reliefs and increased deductions on home loans, currently capped at INR 2 lakhs, are pivotal in stimulating demand and supporting prospective buyers. With these measures in place, the real estate sector is poised to contribute meaningfully to India’s journey towards a 5 trillion-dollar economy.
Sunny Garg, Co-founder, CRIB
There are various areas that need the finance minister’s consideration, and the Budget presents an opportune moment to make these changes and improvements.
One critical area where startups expect relief is in simplifying the taxation framework for startups, as well as the tax treatment of ESOPs. Removing or rationalizing the angel tax would also help significantly and enhance the availability of funds domestically, which is very crucial for early-stage funding.
In the current funding climate, access to funding has become a major challenge for startups. We expect the Finance Minister to introduce initiatives aimed at enhancing funding sources, whether government-backed or from domestic and foreign venture capitalists.
Furthermore, government support could greatly benefit the sector by reducing corporate tax rates for startups and enhancing the eligibility scope under Section 80-IAC for startups.
Shrinivas Rao, FRICS, CEO, Vestian
“We anticipate a budget that tackles pressing issues, boosts demand, and drives sustainable growth. As per the announcements in the interim budget, it is evident that the government will continue to focus on infrastructure development to make India a USD 5 Tn economy in the upcoming years and turn the country into a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. To achieve this goal, the real estate sector is likely to play a pivotal role.
After resuming a third term, the government has already announced the construction of 3 crore new units under PMAY. This shows the government’s commitment towards the real estate sector. Demand for residential units is expected to increase further, if the government increases tax exemption limits for home loans in the Union Budget 2024-25. Moreover, granting industry status to the real estate sector would ease availability of funds and increase participation of foreign investors.”
Swati Saxena, Founder & CEO – 4Thoughts Finance
As we approach the 2024 India Budget, we are cautiously optimistic about the potential measures that will be announced. We believe this budget presents a pivotal opportunity to bolster economic growth and investor confidence. We anticipate the government’s focus on stimulating key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, and technology, which are critical for long-term sustainable development. An important announcement that we expect is on ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans). These are employee incentives that companies use to attract, reward, and retain talent. ESOPs also enable employees to become shareholders and benefit from the company’s growth. Most of the new generation companies give part of company stake as ESOPs to senior employees, who work as well as promoters, but end up losing 40% value vis-a-vis promoters who can enjoy long-term capital gains (LTCG) advantage on equity. This situation needs to be rectified to enable them to earn higher margins.
Additionally, the re-investment from sale of startups is exempted from tax only for Rs 10 cr investment in real estate. However, there is a need to encourage startup investments and make the sector more appealing. One way could be to enable re-investment in startups to get a boost through a tax exemption. We also see the automotive industry looking forward to some key measures in the upcoming budget, especially with the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicle (FAME). Increased support in R&D of the EV sector can also help boost India as a global leader in EV Technology.
The budget can also ensure greater sync between Dividend Distribution Tax (DDT), which is very high, and Long-Term Capital gains on equity which is very low. All these measures would prove beneficial to the liquidity availability in the economy and ensure its healthy growth.”
Dr Pruthvinath Kancherla, Co-Founder Affordplan
“The disparity in access to quality healthcare between Tier I cities and Tier II & Tier III cities remains a significant challenge. The upcoming budget of 2024 should be poised to eliminate such inequalities. Increased healthcare spending will support infrastructure development, enabling the establishment of new medical facilities and upgrading existing ones. This is expected to improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Additionally, the emphasis on digital health initiatives through the National Data Governance Policy will enhance the efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services. This digital transformation is anticipated to streamline patient care and administrative processes, reducing costs and improving outcomes.
The healthcare budget should be set at a minimum of 4%-5% of GDP to ensure adequate funding for a comprehensive range of healthcare services. This allocation is crucial for supporting essential healthcare infrastructure, medical personnel training, the availability of medicines, and the implementation of advanced medical technologies.
The 2024 Union Budget is expected to support further preventive healthcare measures such as expanded vaccination programs, public health campaigns for non-communicable diseases, investment in digital health tools, and enhanced nutrition and wellness programs.
These measures combined are expected to create a more powerful and equitable healthcare system, benefiting both providers and patients”
Manas Mehrotra, Founder, 315Work Avenue
The country is seeing a new office culture given the change in work patterns across the world and new preferences of the workforce. Understandably, the coworking industry has become more relevant than ever with the demand surging significantly in the recent times owing to its affordable pricing options and flexible work culture. Large enterprises too have shifted gears to coworking space as they embraced the hybrid work model to suit their organizational requirements. India continues to be the fastest growing flex office market in the APAC region and is set to account for one-fifth of the office market by 2030. Taking into consideration the popularity of hybrid working, we have a few expectations around GST and taxation from the upcoming Union Budget that can further accelerate growth of this sector.
In recent years, the entrepreneurial landscape has undergone a significant change and coworking spaces have emerged as a transformative force in India’s startup ecosystem. Some of the measures that we could look forward to include lower GST rate for small-scale coworking clients. This will significantly help the coworking industry boost their footprints by attracting small start-ups to be part of the industry as well as increase the revenue collection to the government. The salary upper limit of 25k could be enhanced to 40k and timeline from 3 yrs to 5 yrs to enable start-ups/coworking entities to enjoy the benefit of sec 80JJAA as these industries are generating a greater volume of employment. Input tax credit under GST is an important issue that concerns coworking sector. We expect the budget would enable coworking firms to claim input credit on work contract and construction services supplied so that it is passed on to companies who lease out space for coworking and thereby reduce their overall costs.
There are few other aspects that needs attention. Typically stamp and registration duties are high and since both the landlord as well as client agreements are subject to these charges, hence, either concession in such stamp duty rates or allowing twice the duty paid as expenditure under income tax will encourage even the small agreements to get registered. An important requirement for the coworking industry has been Lower/Concessional rate of TDS which will improve the working capital. Another measure that could be announced to intensify growth of the coworking sector is a further and continued extension of tax holiday for start-ups as they would be motivated to scale up their business and enhance investment.
We also believe that a significant push to infrastructure and single-window clearance system will help in faster establishment of coworking spaces in non-metro cities as well. Overall, the coworking sector, is expecting continued improvement in the ease of doing business which will play an important role in the growth of coworking industry in the near future. Going forward, we hope that the government looks at addressing regulatory concerns and encouraging more coworking firms to open-up through a series of both financial and non-financial incentives and ensure faster economic growth. As we move forward, the demand for coworking spaces is only set to witness greater traction from companies across segments.
Syed Sultan Ahmed, Founder and Chief Learner, LXL Ideas
To fully realize the transformative potential of technology in education, as envisioned in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework (NCF), the government must take urgent steps to reduce the high GST burden on computers, edtech services, and innovative learning tools. Computers which are a basic requirement in education attract a GST of 18%. Edtech service providers also pay 18% GST. We need to energise our education system by bringing in new age learning tools like film, gaming, robotics etc into schools. All these segments attract a GST of 18% even if they are B2B models selling/delivering in school, thereby making it too expensive for schools to try out new methodologies in teaching and learning. These exorbitant taxes are significantly hindering schools from adopting essential digital infrastructure and pedagogical innovations. By creating a more favorable fiscal environment, the government can accelerate the integration of technology into classrooms, enhancing both the quality and accessibility of education.
Furthermore, India’s growth as a research hub and innovative destination depends on preparing its young population for global competition through language proficiency and international certifications. This calls for investment in language training programs, skill development initiatives, and global partnerships. In a world where borders are becoming increasingly permeable due to technological advancements, it is important that we also do the same with our minds. Additionally, reducing the cost of technology in education will make it more accessible to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, fostering greater equity and inclusion.
Dr. Chandrika Kambam, Founder and Managing Director, Anastomos
“Healthcare is a rapidly growing sector in the country but needs attention from the government to ensure access to all sections of society. The healthtech sector in particular would benefit greatly from this focus as it is an emerging segment that will redefine healthcare delivery. As we look forward to the upcoming Union Budget, it is critical that we also focus on the professional development and growth of healthcare personnel in India as this would have a widespread positive impact on the healthcare sector. We expect a generous financial allocation and investment in bridging gaps that exist in the education, career growth, and upskilling of healthcare professionals. The budget could also propose investment in the establishment of a ‘Clinical Governance System’ that assists in the development of clinical protocols, monitoring of their implementation and outcome and the standardization of care delivery that helps in cost control. Policies that empower the diverse community of the healthtech sector — from students to seasoned practitioners—to enhance their professional prospects and growth through technology-enabled, personalized support in healthcare and its related sectors would be welcome.
There is also an urgent need for a supportive regulatory framework for healthcare startups that encourages innovation while ensuring compliance. Tax incentives, grants, and dedicated incubation centers to foster growth within the healthtech ecosystem would enhance its growth in the larger healthcare sector. Additionally, the upcoming union budget presents a significant opportunity for the government to support the growth of startups driven by women entrepreneurs, especially in the healthtech sector. They can be empowered through targeted financial assistance, mentorship programs, and subsidy initiatives. Lastly, robust investments in cybersecurity infrastructure and regulations are essential to protect sensitive health data. Integrating healthtech solutions with government schemes like Ayushman Bharat would also enhance efficiency and expand access to quality healthcare across India.”
Ms. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO of Kinetic Green
“The Government of India (GoI) has provided commendable support to kick-start the Electric Vehicle (EV) revolution in the past five years. However, to meet the ambitious target of increasing EV penetration from the current 6% to 30% by 2030, substantial additional measures are required.
We are anticipating the announcement of FAME 3 in the upcoming Budget to sustain and accelerate EV demand, especially since the current scheme is set to end on July 31. The industry urgently calls for the continuation of the FAME scheme with a clear roadmap for the next 3 to 5 years. This continuity is crucial for maintaining the momentum of investments and efforts towards EV adoption.
Furthermore, we request support for the development of charging infrastructure in key corridors of 10-15 major cities and surrounding highways. This will be pivotal in promoting the use of electric four-wheelers (e4W) and commercial vehicles (CVs) across India.
In addition, GST reforms has been an ask from the EV sector, specifically reduction of GST on lithium-ion batteries to 5% (from current rate of 18%) and the lowering of GST on EV charging services to 5%. These changes will significantly enhance the affordability and overall ownership experience of EVs for customers.
The combined impact of these measures will be instrumental in achieving the critical mass necessary for meeting the GoI’s 2030 EV target of 30 % EV and creating a sustainable EV ecosystem in India.”
Mr Shaji Varghese, CEO – Muthoot FinCorp Limited.
“We hope to see new initiatives for enhancing access to credit among MSMEs especially in the rural areas in this upcoming budget. More liquidity assistance to NBFCs, and credit guarantee to MSME lending can help enhance supply of credit . We anticipate continued budget allocations towards digital initiatives and technologies. Financial inclusion is a significant enabler for Viksit Bharat 2047 and while NBFCs are focused on the same, we expect the government to take some measures to increase credit supply there by enabling the SMEs and rural business development, thus contributing to nation’s growth.”
Sameer Gandotra, Founder & CEO, Frendy
“The upcoming budget is going to be crucial to brace the momentum of consumption, especially in rural areas. The government should certainly double down on their agricultural and rural development initiatives, which inevitably would boost income levels and consumer spending.I hope we get more clarity on the formulation of the National Retail Policy, which in my opinion would be a game-changer! Affordable and low interest credit, stability of tax rates (GST) for staples and push for digitisation, is what the Indian retail space needs to continue the consumption wave.”
Mr. Anand Nichani, Managing Director, Magniflex India
“India is the second most sleep-deprived country after Japan. Indian doctors and health practitioners are increasingly concerned about the implications of sleep deprivation, especially for the youth in our developing nation. To address this, we believe mattresses should be classified as medical products and included in the health and wellness sector. Providing subsidies and reducing the GST from 18% on sleep-essential products will enable many Indians to invest in quality mattresses, which have been proven by doctors to improve sleep and overall health. As the government begins its third consecutive term, we look forward to progressive, industry-centric schemes that will encourage the growth of small and mid-sized businesses in the healthcare and wellness segment.”
Rajiv Agrawal, Founder Partner, Saarathi Realtors
“Slum rehabilitation is a complex process that requires expert intervention for faster, simpler solutions. As we aim for ‘housing for all,’ we must prioritize the needs of the half of our city’s population living in slums. As an expert in slum redevelopment solutions, we urge the government to establish a system to facilitate quicker approvals, allow private entities for grievance redressal and evacuation of slums ensuring that slum dwellers get rehabilitated sooner, which will free up land parcels for newer infra projects in Mumbai with increasing population of city. Our solutions for slum redevelopment will help both State and Central Governments to provide housing to all,”
Aryaman Tandon, Managing Partner, Technology at Praxis Global Alliance
The shift towards AI and Deep Tech solutions is no longer a futuristic vision but an imperative reality. The impact of AI and Deep Tech extends beyond just technological advancements, it is transforming industries and revolutionizing work, changing the way businesses operate. It is poised to have a major impact on companies by reducing their average lifespan with accelerated rate of innovation making older companies obsolete and is also anticipated to cause a substantial job churn of around 24% across various industries, highlighting the underlying potential which they possess.
The Indian government has recognized the significant potential of AI and Deep Tech and is actively shaping a regulatory framework to support its growth. Key expectations from the budget are the following:
Operationalization of the Rs 1 lakh crore deeptech fund for startups
Expand coverage of PLI schemes to consumer electronics, computer and networking and industrial electronics
Rationalization of angel tax and taxation on ESOPs
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