Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to table the Economic Survey 2025-26 in Parliament today, January 29, 2026, ahead of the Union Budget 2026. The Economic Survey, a comprehensive report card on the Indian economy, will be presented to both houses of Parliament, offering insights into the government's assessment of the past financial year and the outlook for the year ahead. The presentation is expected to occur between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM, followed by a media briefing by Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) V. Anantha Nageswaran. The Union Budget 2026 is scheduled to be presented on February 1.
The Economic Survey is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, under the Ministry of Finance. The document reviews the Indian economy's performance over the past financial year and provides an outlook for the coming year. While the Economic Survey does not introduce new policies, it establishes the analytical foundation that shapes the decisions presented in the Budget.
Market participants will be keenly watching the Survey's commentary on global risks, fiscal consolidation, and sectoral trends, as these factors influence equity, bond, and currency sentiment. Live coverage of the Economic Survey will be available on Sansad TV, Doordarshan, and the official Union Budget website.
The Economic Survey typically covers GDP growth trends, inflation and monetary policy, the fiscal position, the performance of the external sector (exports, imports, forex), and social indicators such as employment, health, and education. It often includes special chapters on emerging themes.
The Economic Survey 2024-25 had projected India's real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth at 6.4% in FY25, supported by growth in agriculture and services, alongside improving rural demand. The outlook for FY26 was described as "balanced", with risks stemming from geopolitical tensions, trade, and commodity price shocks. Agriculture was expected to rebound with 3.8% growth in FY25. The industrial sector was forecast to grow by 6.2% in FY25, although manufacturing faced challenges from slowing global demand and supply chain disruptions. According to a PTI report, India's economic growth for 2025-26 is expected to be 7.4 percent, exceeding the pre-Budget projection of 6.3-6.8 percent.
