The stage is set for the Union Budget 2026, with the government officially announcing the dates for the crucial parliamentary session. President Droupadi Murmu has given her approval to summon both Houses of Parliament, marking the beginning of the legislative calendar for the year.
Budget 2026 Session: Official Timeline and Key Dates
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju provided the detailed schedule on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on 9 January. According to the announcement, the Budget Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and run until 2 April 2026. The session will be conducted in two phases.
The first part of the session will conclude on 13 February 2026. Following a recess, Parliament will reconvene for the second phase on 9 March 2026. Rijiju emphasized that this structure is designed to facilitate meaningful debate and advance governance focused on the people's needs.
When Will the Union Budget 2026 Be Presented?
While the session dates are confirmed, the exact date for the presentation of the Union Budget document has been a topic of discussion. According to reports from sources cited by Hindustan Times, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present the Budget on 1 February 2026.
This date has sparked interest because 1 February 2026 falls on a Sunday. The unusual timing led to speculation about a possible rescheduling to Monday, 2 February. However, sources indicated to PTI that the presentation is expected to proceed on Sunday, citing historical precedent. "We have a fixed day for the presentation of the general budget. The concept of Sunday was brought by the British," they told the news agency.
Minister Kiren Rijiju later clarified that the final decision on the presentation date rests with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which will make the announcement at the appropriate time.
Precedent for a Sunday Budget Presentation
Presenting the Union Budget on a Sunday is a rare occurrence, but it is not without precedent. The last time the annual financial statement was tabled in Parliament on a Sunday was over two decades ago. On 28 February 1999, then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha presented the budget on a Sunday.
The upcoming Budget Session holds significant importance as it is the first session of Parliament in the calendar year. It will begin with the President's address to a joint sitting of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. The session typically features:
- The presentation of the Union Budget and the Railway Budget.
- A break between phases to allow parliamentary standing committees to examine the demands for grants from various ministries.
- The introduction and discussion of several important pieces of legislation.
All eyes will now be on the Cabinet Committee's official announcement regarding the Budget presentation date, as the nation awaits the government's financial blueprint for the fiscal year 2026-27.
