Quick reads
- The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has proposed presenting the Union Budget 2026– 27 on Sunday, 1 February.
- February 1 this year falls on a Sunday, but the panel wants to keep the date unchanged.
- The Budget Session of Parliament may start on January 28.
- The Economic Survey is expected to be tabled on January 29.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive Budget if dates are finalised.
What’s being proposed
The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has recommended that the Union Budget for 2026-27 be presented on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Parliament. This continues the practice of presenting the Budget on February 1, a date the government has followed since 2017, even though this year it falls on a weekend.
Where the decision was discussed
The proposal came from the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, which is responsible for setting the calendar for the Budget Session of Parliament. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chairs the committee, which considers possible start dates for the session before proposing the final schedule.
How the schedule might unfold
If approved, the Budget Session is expected to begin on January 28, 2026, with the President’s address to both Houses of Parliament on that day. The Economic Survey, which reviews the country’s economic performance and outlook, is likely to be tabled on January 29. The formal Budget presentation would then take place at 11 am on February 1, 2026.
Presenting the Budget on February 1 has become a convention because it gives Parliament enough time to consider and pass budgetary measures before the new financial year begins on April 1.
Why it matters
The Union Budget is the government’s annual financial plan, outlining spending priorities, taxation policy, and economic strategy for the upcoming year. Keeping the February 1 date, even on a Sunday, reflects the government’s desire for consistency in financial planning and to avoid confusion that might arise from shifting dates each year.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present the Budget, marking her ninth consecutive Budget speech since 2019.
