Budget may unveil big jobs push

MORE EMPLOYMENT INCENTIVES, HIGHER OUTLAYS FOR SKILL PROJECTS EXPECTED

- KULDEEP SINGH

AHEAD OF BUDGET FY27, expectations are running high that it will unveil decisive and targeted measures to boost job creation and harness India’s demographic dividend.Experts feel the Budget must bolster the incentives for job creation in the formal and informal sectors and raise outlays for skilling, besides keeping capital expenditure at elevated levels.

What is required, according to labour market analysts, is continued implementation of employment schemes announced in the previous Budgets, including incentives for companies in both formal and informal sectors to formalise operations and create jobs.

Gaura Sen Gupta, chief economist at IDFC FIRST Bank, said budgetary capital expenditure of the Centre may increase to around ₹12 lakh crore in FY27, up from ₹11.2 lakh crore in FY26. She said policies must be both capital-intensive and labour-intensive.