{"id":71959,"date":"2026-02-01T02:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T05:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/888370674"},"modified":"2026-02-01T02:57:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T05:57:32","slug":"budget-2026-expectations-tech-giants-push-for-strong-ai-digital-infrastructure-support-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/01\/budget-2026-expectations-tech-giants-push-for-strong-ai-digital-infrastructure-support-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Budget 2026 Expectations: Tech Giants Push For Strong AI &amp; Digital Infrastructure Support This Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><img data-opt-id=758893364  fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==\" fifu-lazy=\"1\" fifu-data-sizes=\"auto\" fifu-data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=75&resize=75&ssl=1 75w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=100&resize=100&ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=150&resize=150&ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=240&resize=240&ssl=1 240w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=320&resize=320&ssl=1 320w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=500&resize=500&ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=640&resize=640&ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=800&resize=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=1024&resize=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=1280&resize=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1&w=1600&resize=1600&ssl=1 1600w\" fifu-data-src=\"https:\/\/i3.wp.com\/feeds.abplive.com\/onecms\/images\/uploaded-images\/2026\/02\/01\/5d1fde05cf09145c5f04f88ebd9c38c317699190999701297_original.jpg?impolicy=abp_cdn&imwidth=1200&ssl=1\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- AI bullet --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ai-summary\">\n<div class=\"ai-summary-inner\">\n<div class=\"ai-summary-label\">\n<div class=\"ai-button-outer\">\n<p> <span>Show Quick Read<\/span> <\/p>\n<p>Key points generated by AI, verified by newsroom<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span>India\u2019s technology and AI sector is closely watching the Union Budget 2026\u201327, hoping it will accelerate the country\u2019s shift toward an intelligence-driven economy. With Artificial Intelligence now seen as a core economic tool, not a prestige race, tech firms want stronger policy support for innovation, digital infrastructure, and real-world AI adoption. The Economic Survey has already backed a bottom-up, sector-focused AI approach.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Budget is expected to turn this thinking into funding, incentives, and execution support for India\u2019s growing AI ecosystem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>Union Budget 2026 AI Focus On Innovation &amp; Digital Infrastructure<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>The tech industry wants the Union Budget 2026 to clearly prioritise AI-led innovation and digital infrastructure. The Economic Survey\u2019s view of AI as an economic strategy has been widely welcomed, especially its focus on open systems and sector-specific use cases.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Industry leaders believe India\u2019s strength lies in building smaller, efficient AI models that solve local problems at scale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Former Tech Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani said India\u2019s combination of engineering talent, diverse data, and practical innovation mindset puts it in a strong position globally.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Tech firms are now looking for Budget support in areas like AI research funding, cloud and data infrastructure, and easier access to capital for startups and enterprises.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>There is also strong demand for policies that encourage applied AI instead of experimental projects. Companies want incentives that help AI move from labs into healthcare, education, governance, retail, and manufacturing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>A steady policy environment and clear long-term vision are seen as critical for building trust and encouraging large-scale AI adoption.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span><strong>Union Budget 2026 AI Expectations From Semiconductors &amp; Telecom<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span>Beyond software and platforms, hardware and connectivity are equally important for India\u2019s AI ambitions. Semiconductor companies are expecting continuity and stronger execution under existing schemes like the India Semiconductor Mission.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Industry bodies have asked for higher budget allocations, faster fund disbursement, and tax certainty, as chip manufacturing involves high costs and long timelines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>IESA President Ashok Chandak stressed that predictability is as important as incentives for global investors looking at India as a semiconductor hub. Without reliable execution, AI infrastructure growth could slow down.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Telecom companies also see the Budget as a chance to connect AI growth with next-generation networks. HFCL has suggested an Innovation-Linked Incentive model to reward R&amp;D and patents in AI, 6G, and defence technologies. Stronger networks will allow AI systems to scale faster and reach deeper into the economy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Overall, the tech sector wants the Union Budget 2026 to clearly signal that AI is central to India\u2019s growth story, backed by funding, infrastructure, and long-term policy stability.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"trending-video-player\"> <!-- video heading starts --> <\/p>\n<div class=\"section-heading\">\n<p><h2>Related Video<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- video heading ends --> <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"v-title\"><strong>Union Budget 2025: Arvind Kejriwal lists the shortcomings of the Modi government&#8217;s budget | ABP News | AAP<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <!-- input--> <!-- read more starts --> <!-- read more ends --> <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\"> <\/a><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/blockads.fivefilters.org\/acceptable.html\"> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8230; verified by newsroom India\u00e2\u0080\u0099s <span class=\"match\">technology<\/span> and AI sector is closely &#8230; , not a prestige race, <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> firms want stronger policy support &#8230; &amp; Digital Infrastructure The <span class=\"match\">tech<\/span> industry wants the Union Budget &#8230; problems at scale. Former <span class=\"match\">Tech<\/span> Mahindra CEO CP Gurnani said &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71959"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71959\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}