India’s Union Budget for the year 2026-27 will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM in the Lok Sabha. This is a momentous occasion in history, as the budget will be presented on a Sunday, which fact was even confirmed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, although earlier there were rumors about moving the budget to a weekday because of the weekend. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver her ninth consecutive budget speech, which will bring about the fiscal policies for the next financial year starting on April 1.
Expected Union Budget Session Timeline
The Budget Session of Parliament will be opened on January 28, 2026, by President Droupadi Murmu’s address, which will be attended by both houses. The session consists of two parts: the first one from January 28 until February 13, followed by a break, and then it continues from March 9 to April 2, thus the total number of sittings rises to 30.
Expected Union Budget Historical Significance
Budgets have, since 2017, been regularly submitted on the 1st of February in order to comply with the financial year starting on April 1, which is a change from the previous practice of late-February dates. Sunday presentations are not common; in fact, the last one was in 1999, when Yashwant Sinha was the Finance Minister. Recent years for weekend sessions have included only Saturdays for 2015 and 2025.
Expected Union Budget Market and Economic Context
Stock markets BSE and NSE will be functioning on February 1, in contrast to some past budgets that took place over the weekend, enabling immediate market responses to the announcements concerning capital outlays, reforms, and MSME among others. The government is preparing through pre-budget consultations, with expectations centered on fiscal consolidation amid India’s growth story, which is being influenced by US President Trump’s global impact.
Expected Union Budget Viewing and Expectations
The event will be live-streamed on official channels such as Sansad TV, and the main points are expected to cover income tax, infrastructure, and economic reforms as the main topics. This budget, which is the 80th for India since gaining independence, is an example of the unbroken flow of economic strategic thinking.
