Bhubaneswar: The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (UCCIL) President, Dr. Prabodh Mohanty, has expressed strong support for the Union Budget 2025-26, describing it as a “first-class budget” with a significant focus on the MSME sector.
In his official reaction, Dr. Mohanty highlighted that the government has positioned MSMEs as the nation’s second growth engine, trailing only agriculture. He specifically lauded the expansion of the MSME turnover limit by 2.5 times and the increase in the credit limit for MSMEs without collateral from ₹5 crore to ₹10 crore. He noted that these measures provide a “feel-good factor” and offer easy access to credit, which is essential for the sector to thrive and compete globally.
Preliminary analysis from the UCCIL leadership gave the budget a score of 60 out of 100, with the potential for a higher rating upon further review. The chamber also emphasized that Odisha stands to benefit significantly from the budget’s allocations for infrastructure projects and the tourism sector. Other members of the UCCIL leadership, including Honorary Secretary Sanjeev Mahapatra and Vice President Murali Jammula, echoed these sentiments, noting that the revised income tax slabs would provide much-needed relief to the middle class and salaried employees.
Before the budget presentation, Dr. Mohanty had voiced expectations for progressive financial schemes, tax rebates, and streamlined procurement policies to improve liquidity within the industry. The subsequent announcements regarding credit support and investment limits appear to align with these industry goals, reinforcing the chamber’s optimistic outlook for India’s journey toward becoming a $5 trillion economy.