Union Budget 2026: Will Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present budget on Sunday, February 1, 2026?

Every year, the Finance Minister presents India’s Union Budget on February 1. This practice has continued since 2017. Prior to that, the budget used to be presented on the last day of February. However, this year, a Sunday is falling on February 1, 2026, creating confusion among many whether Union Budget 2026 will be presented on the same day or be postponed to the next day, Monday, February 2, 2026?

FM Nirmala Sitharaman can present Union Budget 2026 on Sunday in this situation: report

If Parliamentary conventions are followed, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will propose the General Budget for 2026-27 on a Sunday, according to officials, reports Press Trust of India (PTI).

Union Budget 2026: Date & time

However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, when asked about it, said, "These decisions are taken by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs at an appropriate time."

The date of February 1 was chosen to guarantee that the budget is implemented on April 1, the first day of the new fiscal year, as per the PTI report

Prior to 2017, the general budget was submitted on the last day of February, and the Parliament would vote on account to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India to cover expenses in the first quarter of the new fiscal year, PTI stated.

In 2017, then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley started the practice of presenting the general budget on February 1 and getting it approved by Parliament by the end of March, well before the start of the new financial year.

Has budget been presented on a Sunday before?

Parliament has had sittings on Sundays under special circumstances, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and on May 13, 2012, to mark the 60th anniversary of the first sitting of Parliament, reports PTI.

The Union Budget is essential to maintaining economic stability by directing government spending, maintaining inflation, and influencing the tax structure. The Union Budget is important because it shapes the tax framework, income tax slabs, exemptions, etc. For companies, policy announcements related to corporate tax, incentives, and regulations can influence expansion plans and hiring decisions.