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Top consumer-goods leaders are urging Budget 2026 to boost middle-class purchasing power and smooth input costs, on top of GST reforms. Parle’s Mayank Shah calls for measures that lift disposable incomes and stabilise agri inputs; Godrej’s Kamal Nandi flags rupee-linked import costs and seeks stable raw-material duties; GCPL’s Sudhir Sitapati suggests shifting some home-care items from 18% to 5% GST to spur demand; Mars’ Prashant Peres wants inverted duty fixes, and Pidilite’s Sudhanshu Vats backs tariff rationalisation + infra push.
Context: the Centre’s “next-gen GST” proposal targets a two-rate 5%/18% structure with 40% on select demerits, while trade data show early greenshoots, Dabur notes demand improved post-transition; Bizom reports kirana orders +6.9% in Q3 vs 3.1% a year ago; Marico saw high single-digit volume growth and expects gradual consumption recovery as inflation eases.
