union budget 2026
When is Budget 2026? Indian Union Budget Date and Speech Time: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive budget in Parliament on 1 February. Several reforms are expected to be announced in the upcoming budget to accelerate economic growth amid geopolitical uncertainties. This time, major changes can be made in the custom duty system in the budget, just like GST was simplified earlier. The government can also give information about steps to reduce the ratio of debt to GDP. After increasing the tax exemption limit to Rs 12 lakh last year, now the working class is expecting relief in standard deduction and reduction in GST rates.
Who presented the highest budget?
With presenting the ninth consecutive budget, Nirmala Sitharaman will come close to the record of former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who had presented a total of 10 budgets in different tenures. Desai presented six budgets between 1959 and 1964 and four between 1967 and 1969. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had presented nine budgets and Pranab Mukherjee had presented eight budgets.
However, the record of presenting the highest budget consecutively is in the name of Nirmala Sitharaman. She was appointed the first full-time woman Finance Minister of India in 2019. Till now she has presented eight consecutive budgets, including the interim budget of February 2024.
When will the budget be presented?
Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 on February 1 (Sunday) at 11 am. From 2017, the date of presenting the budget has been fixed as 1 February. Earlier the budget was presented on the last day of February, but the date was changed to facilitate timely approval from Parliament and implementation from April 1. The timing of presenting the budget was also changed in 1999. Earlier the budget was presented at 5 pm, which was the tradition of the British era. Now it is offered at 11 am.
Where can you see the budget?
The live telecast of Union Budget 2026 can be seen on Sansad TV, DD News and official website indiabudget.gov.in from 11 am on February 1. There will also be live streaming on Sansad TV and PIB’s YouTube channel. Apart from this, there will be live telecast of the budget on TV9 Bharatvarsh news channel and its social media platforms and along with it experts’ opinions and latest updates will also be available.