“Continued support through merchant enablement infrastructure in non-metro regions, scaling credit on UPI, and advancing account-to-account payment interoperability under the National Payments Corporation of India can help deepen usage and formalize cash-light behaviour at scale.” Sarvjeet Virk, Co-founder & MD, Finvasia
We are looking forward to a Budget that builds on the strong foundations laid over the last year. Further steps to rationalize TDS and TCS provisions, expand safe-harbour thresholds for transfer pricing, and enable the direct listing of Indian-origin startups incorporated abroad can strengthen long-term confidence and ease of doing business. Creating a government-sponsored fund focused on life sciences, deep tech, and defence startups can further support innovation in strategic sectors.
UPI has emerged as a core pillar of everyday finance, with deeper adoption across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and expanding use cases beyond peer-to-peer payments. Continued support through merchant enablement infrastructure in non-metro regions, scaling credit on UPI, and advancing account-to-account payment interoperability under the National Payments Corporation of India can help deepen usage and formalize cash-light behaviour at scale. Extending the hybrid working model for SEZs can further accelerate fintech innovation.
The India AI Mission and announced AI Centres of Excellence have set a clear direction. Rolling out agentic AI use cases in fraud detection and credit underwriting, supported by a dedicated DeepTech Fund of Funds and streamlined ESOP taxation for DPIIT-recognized startups, can drive real impact with responsible safeguards in place.
The author is Sarvjeet Virk, Co-founder & MD, Finvasia
