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Below the Pre-Budget Expectations Insights 2026 on India`s Next Real Estate Chapter: What Will Shape Housing, Investment & Cities in 2026 by Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar

“As India prepares for Budget 2026, the focus is on easing pressure on household incomes while improving access to formal credit. A key lever is strengthening digital public infrastructure. An allocation of around Rs 1 lakh crore under Digital India 2.0—encompassing DigiLocker, the Account Aggregator framework, and fully agentless 24/7 Video KYC—can facilitate faster, safer, and more affordable loans and insurance. With Aadhaar-based KYC and consent-led data sharing already established, deeper investment can reduce processing delays, lower fraud risks, and cut delivery costs.

Housing remains a priority. The Rs 45 lakh affordable housing cap no longer reflects urban market realities; revising it can lower EMIs and revive housing-linked consumption. For businesses, extending ESOP tax parity to Udyam-registered MSMEs would support talent retention and formalisation. On taxation, while the New Tax Regime has raised the 30% slab threshold to Rs 24 lakh, inflation continues to push professionals into higher brackets. Indexing the top slab to inflation or revisiting it could free up Rs 2–3 lakh annually for savings and investments. This can be complemented by a flat deduction for long-term protection products—life insurance, health insurance, and pensions—without adding complexity. Collectively, these measures can enhance disposable incomes and align India’s credit and tax systems with current economic realities.”

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