Union Budget 2026: What markets need to rebuild retail investors’ confidence

Retail investors have stayed committed to Indian markets through multiple challenges over the past few years, including a pandemic, global rate shocks, and geopolitical turmoil. What has kept them engaged is not the lure of quick gains, but a growing belief that Indian capital markets are steadily maturing into a credible platform for long-term wealth creation. That belief, however, is not permanent. It needs to be reinforced as investors’ financial commitments grow year after year. In a truly VUCA world, this Budget arrives at a time when markets are seeking something more fundamental and predictable. Taxation is one area where…