Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on February 1 as confirmed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The Budget Session of Parliament begins January 28, with Economic Survey on January 30 and proceedings continuing until April 2.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday officially confirmed that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 on February 1, despite the date falling on a Sunday. The clarification ends days of speculation over whether the government would reschedule the budget presentation due to the weekend.
Addressing a press conference, the Speaker stated that the Finance Minister will begin presenting the Union Budget at 11 a.m. in the Lok Sabha, maintaining the traditional timing followed in recent years. The confirmation brings procedural clarity ahead of the crucial Budget Session of Parliament, which is set to commence on January 28 and continue until April 2.
The uncertainty surrounding the budget date had emerged because February 1, the usual day for presenting the Union Budget, coincides with a Sunday this year. Parliamentary conventions typically avoid major legislative business on weekends, prompting questions about whether the presentation would be shifted. However, the Speaker’s announcement has now put all speculation to rest.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had outlined the structure of the Budget Session, stating that it will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will begin on January 28 and conclude on February 13. After a recess, the second phase will resume on March 9 and continue until April 2.
Rijiju also confirmed that President Droupadi Murmu has approved the summoning of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for the Budget Session 2026 on the recommendation of the Central government. This approval formally initiates the legislative calendar for one of the most significant parliamentary sessions of the year.
According to the official schedule, Parliament will not convene on January 29 due to the Beating Retreat ceremony, a ceremonial event marking the formal conclusion of Republic Day celebrations. Both Houses, however, are scheduled to meet on January 30, when the Economic Survey is expected to be tabled. The Economic Survey provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s economic performance over the past year and sets the context for the policy announcements in the Union Budget.
Parliament will also remain closed on Saturday, January 31, a day before the presentation of the Union Budget. Despite this break, lawmakers will assemble the very next day to hear the Finance Minister’s budget speech, underscoring the importance attached to the annual financial statement.
Following the budget presentation, Parliament will engage in deliberations on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, along with extensive discussions on the budget proposals. These debates are expected to dominate proceedings during the first phase of the session.
Officials indicated that after the initial round of discussions, Parliament is likely to adjourn for a nearly month-long recess on February 13. The session will reconvene on March 9 for the second phase, during which detailed scrutiny of budgetary demands, legislative business, and policy-related debates will take place.
The Budget Session is expected to formally conclude on April 2. Officials noted that Parliament traditionally adjourns on a Friday, but this year the session may end a day earlier because April 3 coincides with Good Friday, a public holiday.
The Union Budget 2026-27 is expected to be closely watched, as it will outline the government’s fiscal strategy amid evolving global economic conditions and domestic growth priorities. Key areas such as infrastructure spending, employment generation, inflation control, social welfare schemes, and fiscal consolidation are likely to be in focus.
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With the confirmation of the budget date and session schedule, political parties, industry stakeholders, economists, and citizens alike are gearing up for a critical phase in India’s parliamentary and economic calendar. The presentation on a Sunday marks a rare but significant departure from convention, reinforcing the government’s commitment to maintaining continuity in the budgetary process.
