Union Budget 2026 Expectations | Real estate sector looks for housing push, liquidity support

With the Union Budget 2026 just days away, the real estate sector has pitched for sustained policy support to improve housing affordability, ease funding constraints and reinforce long-term growth, as industry leaders underline the sector’s growing role in India’s economic trajectory.

Pradeep Aggarwal, Founder and Chairman of Signature Global (India) Ltd, said the sector remains optimistic about continued government intervention through fiscal incentives and demand-stimulating measures to strengthen end-user confidence. “Real estate contributes around 7 per cent to India’s GDP and supports over 200 allied industries. Granting industry status would improve access to institutional funding, lower borrowing costs and enhance transparency, enabling the sector to play a stronger role in job creation and economic growth,” he said.

Aggarwal pointed out that industry estimates suggest real estate could contribute up to 15 per cent to GDP by 2047, positioning it as a key driver of the government’s ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision. He also called for the extension and reintroduction of the Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme (CLSS), noting that it could offer meaningful relief to first-time homebuyers while stimulating demand across housing segments.

Another key expectation flagged by Aggarwal is the expansion of the affordable housing definition to include homes priced up to ₹1 crore, arguing that such a revision would better reflect current market realities. “This could unlock significant growth potential, support sustainable development and strengthen the government’s ‘Housing for All’ agenda,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Ashok Kapur, Chairman of Krishna Group and Krisumi Corporation, said the real estate sector is well-positioned to support broader economic growth as the second-largest employer after agriculture. He expects the government to continue its strong focus on infrastructure development, citing its multiplier effect on economic activity and its role in improving urban connectivity and liveability.

Kapur also stressed the importance of policy stability and regulatory clarity to reinforce buyer confidence and encourage quality-led development. An extension and expansion of CLSS, he said, would provide significant relief to homebuyers and sustain residential demand.

With sustainability gaining policy prominence, Kapur called for incentives for green and eco-friendly housing to accelerate responsible development practices. A continued emphasis on governance, design excellence and sustainable urban growth, he noted, would be critical in meeting the evolving expectations of homebuyers in 2026.