Union Budget 2026-27: Key Dates and How to Follow the Announcements
The Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27 is set to shape India's economic direction. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present this crucial document on February 1, 2026. This event marks her ninth consecutive Budget presentation. It also represents the third full Budget under the Narendra Modi-led NDA 3.0 government.
Parliament Session and Economic Survey Schedule
The Budget session of Parliament will commence on January 28, 2026. It will continue until April 2, 2026. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed these dates. He stated that President Droupadi Murmu approved the summoning of both Houses based on the government's recommendation.
Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran will present the Economic Survey for 2026-27 on January 29, 2026. This important review of the economy will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament. It comes just a day before the main Budget presentation, providing context for the government's fiscal plans.
Budget Presentation Details
Nirmala Sitharaman will start presenting the Union Budget 2026-27 at 11 am sharp on February 1, 2026. Interestingly, this year's Budget falls on a Sunday. This timing is somewhat uncommon in recent parliamentary history.
With this presentation, Sitharaman will achieve a significant milestone. She will surpass the number of Union Budgets presented by several former finance ministers. This list includes Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P. Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, and Morarji Desai.
How to Watch the Budget Live
Citizens across India can follow the Budget presentation through multiple channels. The government will broadcast the Budget speech live on several platforms. Here are the key viewing options:
- The official Union Budget website at indiabudget.gov.in will stream the proceedings.
- Sansad TV and Doordarshan will provide live television coverage.
- Many national news channels will carry extensive live coverage.
- Sansad TV, Doordarshan, and the Press Information Bureau will stream the event on their YouTube channels.
- These official sources will also provide regular updates on social media platforms.
For detailed analysis and live updates, major news websites will offer comprehensive coverage throughout the day.
Economic Context and Expectations
The Budget announcements will play a vital role in shaping India's economic roadmap for the coming financial year. Expectations are running high among various stakeholders. Taxpayers, in particular, are looking for further relief. This follows significant tax changes in the previous Budget, which made annual income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free under the new tax regime.
People now hope for additional income tax benefits. They also anticipate simplified compliance norms and targeted benefits across different sectors of the economy.
Ahead of the Budget, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released important data. It projects India's GDP growth at 7.4 percent for the current fiscal year. This represents an increase from 6.5 percent in 2024-25. However, nominal GDP growth, which does not account for inflation, may slow to 8 percent. This would be a five-year low and will influence tax revenue estimates for the 2026-27 Budget.
Unimplemented Farm Initiatives from Previous Budget
As the government prepares for the new Budget, several agricultural announcements from Budget 2025-26 remain unimplemented. In her previous Budget speech, Sitharaman described agriculture as the "first engine" of the economy. She unveiled several initiatives for the sector, including:
- Raising the loan limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for loans through Kisan Credit Cards.
- Launching a Mission for Cotton Productivity to boost cotton farming.
- Setting up a National Mission on High-Yielding Seeds to improve crop yields.
Regarding the enhanced KCC credit, Sitharaman noted that the scheme facilitates short-term loans for 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers. The higher loan limit aimed to improve access to institutional credit for these groups.
The upcoming Budget will be closely watched to see how these pending initiatives progress. It will also reveal new measures to support India's economic growth and development.
