Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is ready to present the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday, February 1. This Budget will mark a special moment in India’s economic history after Independence.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 was presented in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, and the Budget Session was officially opened by President Droupadi Murmu. Over the years, India’s Union Budget process has changed in many ways. Here are some interesting facts about India’s Budget since British colony.
Budget 2026: First-Ever Sunday Budget
For the first time, the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday. This shows the government’s effort to stick to the February 1 schedule, no matter which day it falls on.
Nirmala Sitharaman’s Unique Record
Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget for the ninth time in a row, becoming the first woman finance minister in India to do so. She became finance minister in 2019 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his second term. She continued in the role after the 2024 elections and has already delivered eight straight budgets, including an interim Budget in February 2024.
Budget Timing Changed from British-Era Practice
Earlier, the Union Budget followed a British tradition. Until 1999, it was presented at 5 pm on the last working day of February. In 1999, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha changed the time to 11 am. Later, in 2017, Arun Jaitley moved the presentation date to February 1 so ministries could use the funds and policies more effectively within the same financial year.
India’s Longest Budget Speech
Nirmala Sitharaman also holds the record for the longest Budget speech in India. Her speech on February 1, 2020, lasted more than two hours and forty minutes. She had to stop before finishing because of health issues, leaving two pages unread.
India’s Shortest Budget Speech
The shortest Budget speech in Indian history was given in 1977 by Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel. His interim Budget speech had only around 800 words, making it the briefest ever.
