Author: eawater

Dr Prashant Agrawal, CEO,Microfilter Polymers Ltd. India When I look at the Union Budget 2026, I don’t just see numbers or allocations, I see intent. An intent to build a more resilient, sustainable and infrastructure-ready India. For those of us working in the water and environmental solutions sector, this budget quietly but clearly signals a decade of opportunity. Water security is no longer a social issue alone; it has become an economic imperative. As cities expand, industries scale and climate variability increase, every litre of water must be treated, reused…

Prof. Dinesh Chandra Rai, Vice-Chancellor, B.R. Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, Bihar The Union Budget 2026-27 goes beyond just listing funds; it pushes forward the goals of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. With ₹1.39 lakh crore set aside for education, it boosts India’s aim to build a knowledge-driven economy. The focus is on making education easier to access, along with promoting new ideas, research, and skills. If carried out well on the ground, reaching 50% enrollment in higher education by 2035 will be straightforward. The ₹55,727 crore for higher education…

Budget 2026 sets a decisive direction for India’s manufacturing sector by reinforcing the ambition of **Viksit Bharat** through technology-led, sustainable growth. The emphasis on advanced manufacturing, digital infrastructure, and green initiatives reflects a clear intent to build globally competitive yet responsible enterprises. Digital transformation, driven by IIoT, enables plants to operate with precision and foresight. Integrated plant dashboards, supported by real-time data analytics and continuous monitoring, empower leadership with actionable insights—improving productivity, energy efficiency, and operational resilience. Such capabilities are no longer optional; they are fundamental to achieving scale with…

Anil Sethi, Chairman, Pump Academy Private Limited The Union Budget 2026–27 highlights India’s fast progress toward deep decarbonisation and improved energy efficiency. As the country moves steadily toward exceeding its 2030 target of reducing emissions intensity by 45%, India is now expected to achieve a 48–57% reduction compared to 2005 levels. The budget announcement of ₹20,000 crore allocation over five years to promote Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies is a significant and timely step. This initiative marks a major milestone in India’s efforts to reduce industrial emissions and…

Mohammed Naser Azeez, Managing Director, Aquality Intelligent Solutions  The Union Budget 2026–27 presents a landmark opportunity for companies operating in infrastructure development, water management, air purification, and sustainable energy sectors. The government’s decisive push toward environmental resilience and clean infrastructure underscores the urgent need for intelligent, technology-driven solutions; precisely what Aquality Intelligent Solutions delivers. Urban Infrstructure and water supply remains the centrepiece of this budget. The combined allocations in water supply across flagship programmes total over ₹84,000 crore, positioning India to achieve universal clean water access within this decade. Aquality’s…

Abdul Rahman Mohammed, CEO, Sahara Industry The Union Budget 2026–27 presents a strong and forward-looking roadmap for India’s infrastructure-led growth. The continued focus on capital investment, urban development, water security, and sustainable infrastructure reflects the government’s intent to build long-term economic resilience while improving the quality of life for citizens.  The ₹85,222 crore allocation for urban development projects will significantly enhance city infrastructure by improving water supply and sanitation systems. The combined investments across key water infrastructure programmes represent a comprehensive national strategy to address water scarcity, improve sanitation access,…

Union Budget 2026 marks a decisive shift in how India approaches water security while treating water not as a welfare obligation, but as strategic national infrastructure. The enhanced allocation of ~₹67,000 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission directly addresses the funding shortfalls and delivery gaps of recent past years, where underspending constrained last-mile execution. At a time of growing groundwater stress, quality challenges, and climate volatility, this scale-up is both timely and necessary. Importantly, the Budget signals a move beyond connection-led metrics toward sustained service delivery, reliability, and water quality,…