RAI pushes Budget 2026 for tax cuts, GST rationalisation and a National Retail Policy

Retailers Association of India's pre-Budget wishlist urges consumption-led growth via personal income tax relief, GST rationalisation on apparel and footwear, simpler compliance, easier credit for small retailers, and a unified National Retail Policy for a sector contributing 10% of GDP and 50 million jobs.

— FiledThu, 14 May, 2026, 06:52 IST·First seen Thu, 14 May, 2026, 06:37 IST·Source CNBC-TV18 · Retail

What happened

Retailers Association of India (RAI) · RAI's Budget 2026-27 recommendations urge consumption-led growth, personal income tax cuts, GST rationalisation on

Key facts

  • 10% of GDP
  • 50 million employees

Why this matters

Easier credit access and unified retail policy would compress the cost-of-capital gap for smaller regional chains, opening a window to scout roll-up targets and franchise partnerships ahead of post-Budget valuation shifts.