New Delhi : The FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) has welcomed the Union Budget 2026 presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, describing it as a women-centric and MSME-led roadmap for inclusive and sustainable growth.
Poonam Sharma, President of FICCI FLO and a leading voice of women entrepreneurs in the country, said the Union Budget 2026 sends a clear and confident message of continuity, credibility, and conviction. She noted that the budget strikes a careful balance between fiscal discipline and inclusive development, placing women, MSMEs, and manufacturing at the heart of India’s growth journey.
“For women entrepreneurs and professionals, this budget is not about short-term concessions, but about building long-term capacity, opportunity, and progress,” Sharma said.
FICCI FLO particularly appreciated the government’s focus on women-led development, especially the creation of a strong care ecosystem. Key initiatives such as training 1.5 lakh multi-skilled caregivers, strengthening allied healthcare institutions, and expanding medical and mental health services are expected to significantly enable greater participation of women in the workforce.
Sharma further highlighted measures such as girls’ hostels in every district, improved access to STEM education, SHE Marts for women entrepreneurs, and targeted livelihood support for persons with disabilities as strong indicators of the government’s commitment to people-centric and inclusive growth.
Welcoming the government’s three-pronged strategy to strengthen MSMEs, FICCI FLO praised the proposed ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund, enhanced liquidity through TReDS and credit guarantees, and the introduction of corporate facilitators to support compliance, particularly in Tier II and Tier III cities. These steps are expected to benefit women-led MSMEs by improving access to finance, reducing procedural burdens, and enabling scale and competitiveness.
Sharma also underlined that continued emphasis on manufacturing, industrial corridors, logistics, clean energy, and public capital expenditure reinforces India’s growth fundamentals and strengthens its position as a global manufacturing hub. Reforms aimed at ease of doing business, trust-based governance, and simplified tax compliance are expected to especially support first-generation entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Reiterating its commitment to collaborative action, FICCI FLO said it looks forward to working closely with the government and stakeholders to ensure that the progressive measures outlined in the budget translate into tangible outcomes on the ground, driving women-led enterprises, MSME growth, and sustainable manufacturing-led development as India moves towards the vision of a developed nation.
Under the leadership of National President Poonam Sharma, a FLO delegation also attended the Union Budget session at Parliament. The delegation included chapter chairpersons from across the country, presidium members, past presidents, governing body members, initiative leads, and members, reflecting FLO’s strong national presence and active policy engagement.
