On February 1, 2026, CREDAI, the apex body of real estate developers, said it was deeply disappointed that the Union Budget 2026 did not offer any incentives to support affordable housing. CREDAI, which speaks for around 15,000 developers nationwide, warned that the share of affordable housing launches could fall from 18% to nearly 12%. CREDAI National President Shekhar Patel said, "This is a serious warning sign for India’s lower middle class and middle class. CREDAI believes that affordable housing is not a welfare scheme — it is economic infrastructure. It is a major driver of employment, consumption, and social stability." He highlighted rising construction costs and land prices as major issues pushing developers away from affordable housing, adding, "If affordable housing supply continues to weaken, the consequences are clear: higher rentals, longer commutes, and growth of informal housing." Despite this, CREDAI welcomed the government's focus on building infrastructure. They said investments in highways, metros, railways, logistics corridors, and urban infrastructure would boost connectivity and unlock new growth opportunities for the property sector. The association also praised the emphasis on ease of doing business, stating, "Faster approvals, simplified processes, and greater digitisation can significantly reduce project timelines and holding costs, ultimately benefiting both developers and homebuyers."