The Union Budget 2026 is set to be presented in Parliament on February 1, 2026, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The budget will be presented at 11 AM. This will be Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget and the third full budget of the Narendra Modi-led NDA 3.0 government.

Key Dates and Events

The Budget Session of Parliament is scheduled to commence on January 28, 2026. President Droupadi Murmu will address the members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on this day. The Economic Survey for 2026-27, outlining the government's assessment of India's economic situation, will be presented on January 29. The session is expected to conclude on April 2, 2026, with a break in between.

The Budget Process: A Quick Overview

The Union Budget is a comprehensive financial statement that estimates the government’s revenue and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). It is a crucial economic tool that reflects the government's priorities and plans for the country's development. The process begins months in advance with various ministries and departments providing their financial requirements and proposals. These are then carefully scrutinized and consolidated by the Ministry of Finance.

Key Components of the Budget

• Revenue: This includes all the income the government expects to receive through taxes (direct and indirect), interest, dividends, and other sources.
• Expenditure: This is the total amount of money the government plans to spend on various sectors such as infrastructure, defense, healthcare, education, agriculture, and social welfare schemes.
• Fiscal Deficit: This is the difference between the government's total revenue and its total expenditure. It indicates how much the government needs to borrow to meet its expenses.

What to Expect in Budget 2026

As the date approaches, industry watchers and citizens alike are eagerly anticipating the Finance Minister's speech. Several sectors are expected to be in the spotlight, including railways, infrastructure, urban development, manufacturing, auto, defense, electronics, MSME, renewable energy and AI. Other key areas likely to receive attention include healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and logistics. Taxpayers and experts are anticipating meaningful tax relief in Budget 2026, with signs of slowing urban consumption and the need to support growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Where can I watch the Budget presentation live? The Budget presentation will be broadcast live on various news channels and online platforms.
• How can I access the Budget documents? The Budget speech and documents can be downloaded from the official Budget website.
• What is the significance of the Economic Survey? The Economic Survey provides an overview of the Indian economy's performance in the past year and offers insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Additional Information

To allow investors to react to Budget announcements, the BSE and NSE will hold special trading sessions on Sunday. In the previous Budget 2025, the Finance Minister gave a significant boost to Indian taxpayers by cutting income tax on earnings up to ₹12 lakh, benefitting millions of middle-class taxpayers. For the salaried class, the non-taxable income under the new tax regime increased to ₹12.75 lakh after standard deduction. She also announced the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which will come into effect from April 1.