Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1, maintaining the recent tradition of budget presentations, despite the date falling on a Sunday. This will be Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget presentation, a notable milestone in India's fiscal history.
The decision to stick with February 1, even on a weekend and coinciding with Guru Ravidas Jayanti, follows the practice started in 2017 by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. The shift to February 1 was intended to ensure quicker implementation of budgetary proposals at the beginning of the new financial year.
Speculation arose regarding a possible change in the presentation date due to February 1 being a Sunday, a day when government offices and stock markets are typically closed. However, sources indicate that the government is inclined to maintain the established schedule. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, is expected to formally approve the date. The CCPA was scheduled to meet today, January 7, to finalize the parliamentary calendar, including the budget presentation date.
The Budget Session of Parliament is likely to commence on January 28 with the President's address to both houses. The Economic Survey, which provides an overview of the economy, is expected to be tabled on January 29. A short break for holidays on January 30 and 31 is anticipated before the budget presentation.
If the February 1 date is confirmed, stock exchanges are expected to conduct a special live trading session on that Sunday. Presenting the budget on a weekend is not unprecedented; Finance Minister Sitharaman presented the Budget 2025 on a Saturday, and Arun Jaitley presented the budgets for 2015 and 2016 on Saturdays as well.
The Union Budget 2026 is the 80th since India's independence. The Finance Ministry has already begun pre-budget consultations with various stakeholders, including economists and farm experts. Citizens have also been invited to submit their suggestions for the budget.
With preparations underway, the focus remains on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she prepares to present what could be a historic ninth consecutive Union Budget.
