Synopsis: The Union budget for the FY 2026-27 is a rare occurrence since it falls on a Sunday after so long. The session will start from January 28 followed by an economy survey on January 29. This Union Budget is being held by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and is very important for investors, businessmen and employees.
The speaker of Lok Sabha Om Birla has confirmed that the Union Budget will be scheduled on Sunday, February 1 and there will not be any changes on the date and timings. This is being presented at the time when the government expects the economy to grow by 7.4%.
The dates for the Budget Session have been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which is chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Even if you don’t follow finance news, Budget Day usually affects your monthly expenses in some way and you shouldn’t miss this. Here’s all the details you need to know about Budget 2026.
Important Dates to keep in Mind
- The Budget Session will begin on Jan 28, 2026 and will go on till April 2, 2026
- The first phase will be concluded by February 13, 2026
- March 9, 2026 will mark the beginning of second phase
- Economy survey will happen on January 29, 2026
- The Union Budget 2026–27 will be on February 1, 2026.
A Rare Sunday Budget presentation
The Union Budget 2026 will be presented on a Sunday which is happening after a very long time and is very rare. The last time the Union Budget happened on a weekend was in 1999. The rule for presenting the Union Budget at that time was at the end of February and that is why the then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha presented the Budget on February 27, which fell on a Saturday.
Sitharaman’s Budget tally
This Union Budget will be the ninth Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman consecutively. She has now reached very close to the record of 10 Budgets presented by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai. She already holds the record for presenting the most consecutive Union Budgets by any Finance Minister.
Her tally includes:
- Seven full Budgets presented between 2019-2025
- She also presented one Interim Budget in February 2024
Also Read: Union Budget 2026 Is Likely to Introduce Exclusive Credit Card Benefits for Women: Check Details
What to expect from Union Budget 2026
Last year, the Union Budget 2025 changed income tax slabs and GST rates. This time, the focus is expected to be on keeping things stable and supporting growth.
One point to watch is the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which is planned to start from April 1, 2026. The Budget is expected to explain what new changes people can expect and how to follow it correctly.
The government is also expected to look at spending by people and support for small businesses.
Focus on consumption and MSMEs
The focus in 2026 is expected to shift towards:
- Improving credit access for MSMEs
- Supporting the manufacturing sector
- Meeting rising consumption demand
Will stock markets open on Sunday?
As we know that the budget presentation is falling on Sunday, the first question in everyone’s mind is whether the stock market will be open on the weekend or not. The National Stock Exchange has said it is still reviewing the possibility of opening the markets but nothing has been officially announced yet. The Bombay Stock Exchange has also not made any announcement so far. In the past, the market had been opened even on non-trading days if the budget was presented.
Written by Supriya
