The 2026 Tech Mandate: Pre-Budget Strategy for Tech Investments

Overview

India is entering a decisive fiscal moment. FY26 will mark a phase where AI adoption, open hybrid cloud models, digital public infrastructure (DPI), and resilient sovereign-cloud ecosystems will shape enterprise competitiveness. As technology leaders calibrate their pre-budget planning, the need for accurate market intelligence and policy foresight becomes mission critical. Strategic Market Insights 2026 is designed as a closed-door executive Think Tank curated for CIOs, CTOs, CFOs, and transformation leaders responsible for FY26 technology investment and capital planning.

Key Areas of Discussion:

  • Analyse FY26 macroeconomic, policy, and technology trends impacting enterprise cloud, AI, security, and modernization budgets.
  • Interpret how India’s evolving digital policy landscape—data governance, DPI expansion, and digital sovereignty—will influence technology spend in FY26.
  • Evaluate pathways to accelerate AI readiness using open hybrid cloud architectures, with insights from NxtGen and Red Hat’s joint FY26 roadmap.
  • Appraise cost-optimization, resilience, and compliance models enabled by sovereign cloud frameworks aligned to industry-specific needs.
  • Compare cross-industry digital transformation priorities for FY26 to benchmark investment, innovation, and ROI expectations.

Who Should Attend

  • CIOs
  • CTOs
  • CFOs

Agenda

Event Schedule

Timings

Agenda Item

Activity

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Registration

Participants arrive and network with peers, NxtGen & Red Hat representatives

7:00 PM - 7:10 PM

Welcome Address & Opening Remarks

Welcome Address & Opening Remarks - Navtez Bal, Vice President & General Manager (VP & GM) for India and South Asia at Red Hat and A S Rajgopal, MD & CEO, NxtGen

7:10 PM - 7:20 PM

Special Presentation

Insight Session on Prebudget technology sentiment, digital spending forecasts & enterprise investment priorities.

7:20 PM - 8:20 PM

Executive Discussion (Moderated CXO Roundtable)

Topic - The 2026 Tech Mandate: Pre-Budget Strategy for Tech Investments Key Areas of Discussion:
• To analyse FY26 macroeconomic, policy and technology trends impacting enterprise cloud, AI, security, and modernization budgets

• Interpreting how India’s evolving digital policy landscape - data governance, DPI expansion, and digital sovereignty will influence technology spend in FY26
 
• To evaluate pathways to accelerate AI readiness using open hybrid cloud architectures

 

• To appraise cost-optimization, resilience and compliance models enabled by sovereign cloud frameworks aligned to industry-specific needs

• Comparing cross-industry digital transformation priorities for FY26 to benchmark Investment, Innovation and ROI expectations.

8:20 PM - 8:30 PM

Keynote Address

Keynote Address by Mangesh Surve

8:30 PM - 8:40 PM

Keynote Address

Keynote Address by Vishant Pai

8:40 PM Onwards

Networking Dinner & Drinks

Networking over an experiential white-glove Dinner and Drinks