Finance Minister held a pre-Budget consultation with representatives from the manufacturing sector on Tuesday, as part of the government’s ongoing exercise to gather industry feedback ahead of the Union Budget. Industry leaders urged the government to step up support for domestic manufacturers amid growing global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions. Several participants pushed for tax relaxations and incentives to encourage companies setting up new manufacturing units, particularly in sectors aligned with the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The industry also pressed for simplified compliance procedures and faster clearances to reduce operational bottlenecks and improve ease of doing business. Officials familiar with the discussion said the Finance Ministry assured stakeholders that their recommendations would be reviewed in the budget formulation process. The pre-Budget meetings with different sectors are expected to continue over the coming weeks.