Nirmala Sitharaman Budget 2026 date and time: India’s Union Budget for 2026–27 will be presented in Parliament in New Delhi on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget in the Lok Sabha at 11 am IST, as per tradition.
The Union Budget is one of the most important events in India’s economic calendar and is closely watched by citizens, businesses and financial markets. During her speech, the finance minister will outline the government’s spending plans, tax proposals and major policy priorities for the coming financial year. The Budget speech usually lasts between one hour and ninety minutes.
The presentation will take place in Parliament’s central hall and will be broadcast live so people across the country can follow it in real time. Even though February 1 falls on a Sunday this year, the Budget speech will begin sharply at 11 am. Viewers are advised to tune in a little early to avoid missing the opening remarks.
Where to watch Union Budget 2026 speech live
The Union Budget 2026 speech will be telecast live on Sansad TV. Doordarshan’s DD National channel will also air the proceedings from Parliament. In addition, several national news channels will carry live coverage, along with expert discussions and instant analysis after key announcements.
Ahead of the Budget, the traditional Halwa ceremony was held on January 27 at the Budget Press in North Block in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The ceremony marks the final stage of Budget preparation and signals the start of the lock-in period for officials involved in drafting the document.
Budget session schedule
The Budget Session of Parliament began on January 28 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu to both Houses. On January 29, Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2026, which provides a detailed overview of the country’s economic performance and outlook.
This year’s Budget is expected to focus on sectors such as artificial intelligence, automobiles, defence, electronics, infrastructure, manufacturing, MSMEs, railways, renewable energy and urban development. Other areas including agriculture, healthcare, logistics and tourism are also likely to receive allocations from the Centre.
The first part of the Budget Session will conclude on February 13, while the second phase will begin on March 9. The session is scheduled to end on April 2, after which both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will be adjourned sine die.