Budget 2025: Date, time, expectations, when and where to watch FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech live
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present the Union Budget 2025 on Saturday, February 1. However, an official announcement from the central government is yet to be made. This is going to be the eighth budget presented by Sithraman. This will also be the second budget for the third term of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India.
Before the Budget announcement, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved changes in key positions within the finance ministry. Tuhin Kanta Pandey has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Revenue, while retaining his role as Finance Secretary.
Arunish Chawla has been appointed Secretary of DIPAM and will also temporarily assume the role of Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) and the Ministry of Culture until further notice.
When and where to watch Budget 2025
The live presentation of the Union Budget will be available to viewers on several platforms:
Television: The budget speech will be aired live on DD News and Sansad TV.
YouTube: The presentation will be streamed live on the YouTube channels of DD News, Sansad TV, the Ministry of Finance, and PIB.
Budget 2025 date and time
Following the traditional way, the Finance Minister is going to present the budget in the parliament on February 1 at 11 am. However there is not any official confirmation regarding the date and time.
Is the stock market open on Budget day?
Due to the Union Budget 2025 announcement, the Indian stock market (BSE and NSE) will remain open on February 1, even though it falls on a Saturday. The exchanges stated in a circular, “In light of the Union Budget presentation, the Exchange will hold a live trading session on February 1, 2025.”
Normally, Indian stock exchanges are closed on weekends. However, there have been previous occasions when the Union Budget was presented on a Saturday.
Budget 2025 Expectations
As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, industry leaders are expressing their expectations for significant reforms that could foster growth and innovation in key sectors. Jitin Bhasin, CEO and Founder of SaveIN, highlighted the opportunity to drive innovation in the fintech lending space, particularly in empowering MSMEs. He anticipates that policy measures will strengthen digital infrastructure, ease credit access, and promote sustainable financial practices. He also pointed to the potential of embedded finance to transform responsible consumption by seamlessly integrating financial services into daily transactions.
Meanwhile, Roland Landers, CEO of the All India Gaming Federation, voiced hope that the government will reduce the GST rate and address retrospective taxation issues. Such measures would provide much-needed clarity and support for further growth and innovation. He also expressed optimism about the government’s focus on advancing the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector, expecting increased funding and policy backing for this initiative.
Reflecting on the growth of India’s online gaming industry in 2024, Landers pointed out its resilience despite challenges such as the 28% GST. The sector has surpassed expectations, reaching $3.8 billion in revenue in FY24, signaling robust growth and promising potential for the future.