New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- A majority of industry stakeholders have identified boosting domestic manufacturing and strengthening the 'Make in India' initiative as the top priority for the Union Budget 2026-27, citing high compliance burden, logistics and energy costs, and limited access to long-term capital as key constraints to scaling up manufacturing in the country, according to a pre-Budget survey recently conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The Budget for 2026-27 will be presented on February 1, as is the convention.

The survey, conducted among professionals across manufacturing, services, infrastructure, IT/ITeS, start-ups and allied sectors, found that 55 per cent of respondents remain op...