Mumbai, Jan 27 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget for the fiscal year 2026–27 on February 1 at 11 am, marking her ninth Budget in Parliament. As the date falls on a Sunday, both BSE and NSE will remain open for equity trading. The pre-open session is scheduled from 9:00 am to 9:08 am, followed by regular trading from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.
The Budget session of Parliament will commence on January 28, 2026, with President’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed. This session marks the first of the year and sets the stage for discussions on the fiscal roadmap.
Since Budget 2017–18, India has consistently presented the Union Budget on February 1, moving away from the earlier tradition of February 28. Although a Sunday Budget is rare it would be the first since 2000 it is not unprecedented. Last year’s Budget was tabled on a Saturday, and a similar weekend presentation occurred in 2015 under then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
A notable historical shift took place during the 1999–2000 Budget when Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha moved the presentation time from the colonial era 5 pm slot to 11 am, establishing a new practice that continues to this day.
The Budget 2026 is expected to highlight income tax reforms, infrastructure investment, and measures to boost economic growth, with markets and citizens alike closely watching the announcements.