Budget 2026: Private capex likely to gather steam next year

Core Insights - Private investment in India is expected to increase in 2026, driven by strong domestic consumption, reduced GST rates, government reforms, low inflation, and low interest rates [1][14] - The upcoming budget is anticipated to prioritize public capital expenditure, which may further stimulate private investment [14] Economic Indicators - Capacity utilization has risen to approximately 75%, indicating steady economic activity and supporting a potential increase in private capital expenditure [8][14] - Private capital expenditure increased by 11% to ₹9.4 lakh crore in FY25 compared to the previous year, with order books for capital goods companies surging by 20.7% [9][14] - New project announcements reached ₹14.6 lakh crore in the first half of FY26, up from ₹7.8 lakh crore in the same period the previous year [9][14] Sectoral Insights - Sectors such as fast-moving consumer goods, consumer durables, renewables, electronics, and electric vehicles are expected to see heightened investment due to sustained domestic demand [1][14] - The robust order book position of capital goods companies is likely to support continued capital expenditure growth, particularly in semiconductors, electronics, electrical equipment, EV components, and basic metals [10][14] Government Policies - Recent policy changes include a revamp of GST, new labor codes, modifications to the rural employment guarantee scheme, insurance reforms, and the opening of nuclear power to private sector participation [2][14] - Central government capital expenditure increased by 32% to ₹6.2 trillion in the April-October period compared to ₹4.7 trillion in the same period the previous year [11][14] Inflation and Monetary Policy - The RBI cut the policy repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.25%, totaling a reduction of 125 basis points in 2025, which, along with softer retail inflation averaging 2.3% in 2025, is expected to support demand and investment [5][14] - Gross fixed capital formation rose by 7.3% in the second quarter of FY26, slightly lower than the 7.8% growth in the previous quarter [10][14]