By Aditya Krishnakumar, Co-founder, BIDSO
“What sets this budget apart is its recognition that manufacturing competitiveness today requires more than capital—it demands integrated ecosystems of R&D, skilling, technology adoption, and patient capital. This can be the starting point of creating the institutional scaffolding for a manufacturing-led growth trajectory that is both inclusive and globally competitive. The toy manufacturing initiative is particularly transformative. By investing in research, equipment design, and material sciences, India is positioning itself as a global hub for affordable, high-quality sports goods—mirroring the strategic approach we’ve seen succeed in pharmaceuticals and automotive components. It is heartening to see that the consumer manufacturing sector now has the structural support it has long deserved.
Additionally, with ₹10,000 crore dedicated to creating ‘champion SMEs’ and ₹10,000 crore for the Fund of Funds for Startups, this budget transcends incremental policy adjustments to architect a comprehensive ecosystem for scale and innovation. As well for startups, the doubling of credit guarantee coverage and mandatory TReDS adoption by central PSEs addresses the twin challenges of capital access and working capital management that have constrained hypergrowth. This isn’t just funding—it’s the plumbing infrastructure that allows innovation to scale.
