New Delhi, 12 January (H.S.): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Union Budget for financial year 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha on February 1 at 11 a.m., a date confirmed by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday despite falling on a Sunday.

Budget Session Schedule

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced that President Droupadi Murmu approved summoning both Houses for the Budget Session 2026, commencing January 28 and extending to April 2.

The session divides into two phases: the first concluding February 13, and the second resuming March 9. The Economic Survey 2025-26 precedes the budget, scheduled for presentation in the Lok Sabha on January 29.

Historical Context

The February 1 tradition began in 2017, shifting from February 28 to align fiscal planning ahead of the April 1 new financial year start, enabling timely fund utilization. Sunday presentations remain rare; the last occurred February 28, 1999, when Yashwant Sinha delivered the general budget.

Sitharaman's Milestone

This marks Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget, placing her near former Prime Minister Morarji Desai's record of 10 presentations. She already holds the distinction of presenting the most budgets as a single-term Finance Minister.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar