FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), under the leadership of 42nd National President, Ms. Poonam Sharma, welcomed the Union Budget 2026, presented by the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, following an exclusive delegation visit to the Parliament of India to attend the Budget Session.
The visit offered members a rare and privileged opportunity to witness one of the most significant moments in India’s economic calendar from close quarters and engage with the democratic process at the highest level.
The FLO delegation included Chapter Chairs from across the country, along with Presidium Members, Past Presidents, Governing Body Members, Initiative Leads and Members, reflecting FLO’s wide national footprint and strong policy engagement. Commenting on the Budget, Ms. Poonam Sharma, President, FICCI FLO, said:
“The Union Budget 2026 sends a clear and confident signal of continuity, credibility, and conviction. It balances fiscal discipline with inclusive growth, and places women, MSMEs, and manufacturing at the heart of India’s development journey. For women entrepreneurs and professionals, this Budget is not about short-term sops, but about building long-term capacity, opportunity, and progress.”
FICCI FLO applauds the Budget’s focus on women-led development, particularly the creation of a robust care ecosystem, including the training of 1.5 lakh multiskilled caregivers, strengthening allied health institutions, and expanding geriatric and mental health services. These initiatives will play a critical role in enabling greater workforce participation by women.
Measures such as girls’ hostels in every district, enhanced access to STEM education, SHE Marts for women entrepreneurs, and targeted support for Divyangjan livelihoods reinforce the government’s commitment to people-centric and inclusive growth.
FICCI FLO welcomes the government’s three-pronged approach to strengthening MSMEs, including the establishment of a ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, enhanced liquidity through TReDS and credit guarantees, and the introduction of Corporate Mitras to support compliance, especially in Tier II and Tier III towns.
These measures are expected to significantly benefit women-led MSMEs, improving access to finance, reducing procedural burdens, and enabling scale and competitiveness. The continued thrust on manufacturing, industrial corridors, logistics, clean energy, and public capital expenditure strengthens India’s growth fundamentals and positions the country as a global manufacturing hub.
Reforms aimed at ease of doing business, trust-based governance, and simplified tax compliance will particularly support first-generation entrepreneurs and small businesses. FICCI FLO reaffirms its commitment to working closely with government and stakeholders to ensure that the Budget’s progressive measures translate into tangible outcomes on the ground, driving women-led enterprises, MSME growth, and sustainable manufacturing-led development as India advances towards Viksit Bharat.