As India prepares for a defining budget day amidst a fragmented geopolitical order, reforms to herald sustained all-inclusive development gains traction, with the impending India-EU trade deal and the expansive web of bilateral FTAs. The need for a review of the previous FTA experiences, along with a High-Level Committee to review extant customs regulations and undertake impact analyses grows. At the same time, investors in India’s growth story across the GCC, GVC, and AI troika seek tax certainty to inspire long-term investment.

What, then, are the policy mandarins the Budget 2026 shall seek to address for these tax and trade interplays? I was delighted to share that an opinion piece, titled “New playbook for reforms needed”, authored by myself and Ms Spandana Koona (Research Associate) for Business Standard examine the issues and provide a holistic glide path for policymakers to address industry concerns in their bid to foster a resilient and future-first India.