Automakers want the government to provide merit-based policies to support green tech and alternative fuels in the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. It also wishes for allocations to aid the electric vehicle ecosystem, like charging infrastructure, to fuel growth in the sustainable mobility segment in the country.

The Agewell Foundation, an NGO advocating for the rights and welfare of the elderly, has submitted a comprehensive set of recommendations to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging her to address in the Union Budget the growing challenges facing India's ageing population.

Mustard oil manufacturer Puri Oil Mills has urged the central government to support the sector through Production-linked Incentives (PLI), the establishment of a development board, and the resolution of export barriers before the Union Budget 2025.

Ahead of the Budget, Warren Harris, MD and CEO of Tata Technologies CEO, said that the budget should focus on innovation-driven policies and investment in emerging technologies.

"In order to achieve India's ambitious goals outlined in the roadmap for a USD 5 trillion economy, the budget should prioritise innovation-driven policies, investments in emerging technologies, and the development of products in India, for India and the world, "Tata Technologies CEO & MD Warren Harris said in a statement.

Industry body India Hydrogen Alliance (IH2A) has sought additional budgetary support of $2.5 billion for the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) in the upcoming Budget.

It has "recommended increasing budgetary support for the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), with an additional USD 2.5 billion allocation in addition to the USD 2.3 billion already allocated to NGHM".

According to a pre-budget survey by Grant Thornton Bharat, 72% of individual taxpayers have picked the new income tax regime.

The announcements on allocation for the Ministry of Defence in the Budget will be in focus as aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defence production has been a key government focus area.

SBI Research, ahead of Budget 2025-26, is expecting government to double the tax exemption limit on savings accounts to ₹20,000.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget for the financial year 2025-26 on Saturday, February 1.

Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal said that the state has demanded a special package and another relief package for the Wayanad landslide victim rehabilitation and for the Vizhinjam International Port.

"We have given our demands in detail in the pre-budget meeting held at Jaisalmer last month," he said.

Rajesh Magow, co-founder and Group CEO of MakeMyTrip hoped for an "industry” status for the hospitality sector in the upcoming budget. He said, "It's an important one for the overall industry."

Ahead of the Union Budget 2025, former Tech Mahindra CEO and industry veteran Chander Prakash Gurnani has emphasised the need to focus on upskilling initiatives and computing infrastructure.

"India's exports are approximately USD 250 billion in the technology sector. And for us to be successful, I think we need to allocate a lot more to skilling and upskilling. We need to involve the academia. We need to involve the schools...we would need the government's support there," he said.