“Union Budget 2026 is an opportunity to accelerate India’s AI-led transformation of financial markets. As AI adoption deepens across fintech, capital markets, and investment banking, the focus must shift from intent to execution through scaled support for the IndiaAI Mission, robust digital and compute infrastructure, and clear, forward-looking regulatory frameworks. Policy continuity in fintech, greater clarity on digital lending and data usage, and incentives for responsible AI integration will be key to strengthening market efficiency, transparency, and capital access. Such measures can help AI-native platforms drive faster IPO readiness, deepen investor participation, and build a more resilient, globally competitive financial ecosystem.” – Deepank Bhandari, Co-founder, S45