New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth consecutive Budget, the Union Budget 2026, on 1 February (Sunday), today, at 11:00 am. It will be the ninth time that Sitharaman will present the Union Budget.
She is now just behind former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who had presented 10 budgets over multiple tenures as finance minister.
Catch LIVE Updates Below:
11:13 am:
Our Kartavay is to accelerate and sustain economic growth, fulfil aspirations of people: FM Sitharaman
11:11 am:
"We have pursued far-reaching structural reforms. Fiscal prudence and monetary stability, while maintaining a strong thrust on public investment, keeping self-reliance as a pillar. We have built domestic manufacturing capacity, energy security and reduced critical import dependencies," says the Finance Minister.
11:08 am:
Sitharaman says, "Since we assumed office 12 years ago, the country's economic trajectory has been marked by stability, fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation. This is the result of conscious choices we have made even in times of uncertainty and disruptions."
11:07 am:
"This government led by PM Modi has chosen action over ambivalence, reforms over rhetoric and people over populism," says Nirmala Sitharaman
11 am: FM begins Budget speech
As the clock strikes 11 am, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils her 9th consecutive budget.
10.49 am:
Hindustan Zinc shares take hit ahead of Budget
Hindustan Zinc shares crashed over 20 percent in two sessions after a record fall in global silver prices. The stock hit lower circuit on Budget day, wiping out Rs 60,000 crore in value. High leverage, silver price collapse, and Vedanta’s OFS added strong selling pressure. (Read more)
10.39 am:
Let's see, says Priyanka Gandhi
On the Union Budget 2026, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that she did not have much expectation, but suggested they should wait and see.
10.41 am:
Sensex in green zone
As of 10:41 am on February 1, 2026, the market index is currently trading at 82,533.59, reflecting a positive gain of 263.81 points. This movement represents a percentage increase of 0.32% since the market opened for the session.
10.38:
Roadmap for India's economic growth: Saurabh Shah
Saurabh Shah, Co-Chairman of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the budget presented that day was not only going to be about numbers but would also serve as a roadmap for India's economic growth. Regarding the middle class, he suggested that there should be a rationalisation of personal income tax slabs in the budget. He further noted that incentives would be provided to startups, MSMEs, and technological entrepreneurs. Additionally, he expressed hope that there would be synchronization of compliances and regulations between state and federal governments to ensure ease of doing business at the ground level, enabling foreign businesses to enter India and Indian businesses to expand.
10.33:
Structural problems in Indian economy, says Congress MP Manish Tewari
10.24:
"Reform Express' will move forward speedily," says Kiren Rijiju
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that it would be a historic budget and that the Prime Minister's 'Reform Express' would move forward speedily towards Viksit Bharat.
10:11 am:
'Scoop of good luck' from President Murmu
Ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 in Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday offered dahi cheeni to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as she arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a traditional and auspicious beginning to Budget Day.
10:01 am
Sameer Puri, Managing Director, Kestone Utsav
India’s economic backdrop is resilient, with GDP growth projected at around 6.5% in the upcoming fiscal year, supported by strong consumption and services demand. The wedding industry alone is a major economic pillar valued at around $130 billion annually, creating millions of jobs and contributing close to ₹6.5 lakh crore in economic activity during the peak 45-day season. With roughly 8–10 million weddings every year and robust consumer spending, targeted budget support for tourism, events, and MSMEs can further catalyse growth across hospitality, logistics, and creative sectors
10.00 am
Kauhal Mehta, Managing Director at Walpalst Pvt Ltd
India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy, driven by strong domestic demand and robust public capital expenditure. The construction sector, contributing nearly 18% to India’s GVA, remains a vital engine of growth and employment, supported by sustained investments in infrastructure, urban development, and housing. Looking ahead, GDP growth of 6.5–7% and construction growth of 8–10% are expected next fiscal, led by government-led infrastructure spending and a gradual revival in private capex. Policy continuity, stable energy costs, and incentives for sustainable construction materials will be key to maintaining this growth momentum.
9.59 am:
Dr Vandana Singh- Chairperson, Aviation Cargo, Federation of Aviation Industry in India (FAII)
India’s economy is showing resilience with real GDP growth around 6.5% in FY25, underpinning broader industrial expansion. The logistics market, projected at ~US$384 billion in 2026 and growing at about 9% CAGR, is a vital growth engine. Air cargo throughput, now over 3.8 million tonnes, is forecast to expand at ~11.5% CAGR through 2033, highlighting rapid demand from e-commerce and exports. In aviation, India ranks among the top five global markets, underscoring the need for targeted budget support in cargo infrastructure, multimodal connectivity, and digitisation to sustain trade and competitiveness.
9:52 am:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman along with Minister of State For Finance Pankaj Chaudhary arrives at Parliament to present the Budget. FM Sitharaman shows the digital tablet, containing the Budget document, enclosed in a traditional red 'bahi-khata' style pouch.
9:49 am:
Sanchita Mukherji, Business Economist and Managing Partner, Talk The Walk
As we approach the Union Budget 2026, the conversation must shift decisively from what we want to how we build resilience within India’s domestic economy. External forces such as global tariffs, trade wars and geopolitics are largely outside our control, but our internal policy response is not. The budget must therefore focus on strengthening domestic fundamentals rather than reacting to global volatility.
A key priority should be converting the government’s significant public capital expenditure of recent years into a strong magnet for private investment. This requires moving beyond assembly-led growth to deep manufacturing and higher domestic value addition. Production-linked incentives should increasingly support component manufacturing and import substitution, not by raising protectionist walls, but by strengthening India’s manufacturing base and competitiveness.
Equally important is spurring consumption without triggering inflation. Rational measures such as increasing the standard deduction and enhancing housing loan interest caps can put more disposable income in the hands of the middle class, driving demand organically across sectors like housing, consumer goods and services.
The banking system, now among the healthiest it has been in a decade, must evolve from being cautious to becoming catalytic. While large corporates have access to capital, MSMEs require stronger credit guarantee mechanisms. Reforms in NBFC lending and faster recovery frameworks can further unlock credit flow into the real economy.
Finally, the budget should accelerate public-private participation through monetisation of brownfield assets, divestment 2.0 and innovative risk-sharing models. With India’s per capita income expected to rise sharply by 2031, last-mile implementation, faster clearances and cutting red tape will matter more than headline allocations. Execution is the true growth multiplier.
9:48 am:
Pankaj Goyal, Co-Founder & COO of AutoNXT
As the Union Budget approaches, we hope to see continued policy support for the electrification of agriculture. Incentives for electric farm machinery, easier access to green financing for farmers, and investments in rural charging and battery infrastructure can significantly accelerate adoption. EV tractors not only reduce operating costs for farmers but also contribute to cleaner, more sustainable farming practices. A clear roadmap for indigenous manufacturing and R&D support would further strengthen India’s position as a global hub for electric agricultural equipment.
9:46 am:
Yachneet Pushkarna, Chief Seva Officer & CEO, Haribol:
As India approaches the Union Budget, we hope to see a focused policy push to bring greater transparency to the dairy sector through AI and digital technologies. The future of Indian dairy depends on replacing opaque systems with verifiable, data-led practices that build trust across the value chain, from cow health and milk quality to processing and storage.
We hope the Budget introduces targeted subsidies for dairies investing in AI-enabled health monitoring, digital traceability, automated quality testing, and transparent processing, making these technologies accessible to small and mid-sized players.
By rewarding transparency, the government can help the sector move from claims to proof, an approach already being demonstrated by HariBol Foods, an ISKCON impact project for sustainable food and dairy, recognised among the world’s top initiatives by the World Economic Forum. With the right policy support, AI can become the backbone of a more accountable, resilient, and globally trusted Indian dairy ecosystem.
9:45 am:
Vinesh Menon, Education Policy Expert & CEO, ARISE
India’s education challenge is not a lack of intent, spending announcements, or ambition it is fragmented execution. While successive budgets have spoken about reform, skill development, and digital infrastructure, education spending remains stuck at around 3% of GDP, far below what a modern, future-ready system demands.
Budget 2026 must decisively move away from schemes to systems by trusting teachers as nation-building partners, investing in teacher capacity, and creating scalable, permanent institutional structures rather than short-term pilot projects. Regulatory overload and the absence of an independent, trust-based oversight mechanism continue to stifle innovation and private participation.
We need single-window digital compliance, clear separation of regulation and administration, and formal recognition of private schools as partners in national development. Without addressing equity, teacher preparedness, and technology integration at scale, India risks widening the learning divide where children in the same country grow up with vastly different outcomes.
Fixing education today is essential if India is serious about building a skilled workforce and achieving its long-term growth vision.
9:43 am:
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with officials outside the Ministry of Finance in New Delhi before the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27.
9:35 am:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents copy of Budget to President Droupadi Murmu.
9: 33 am:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls on President Droupadi Murmu before presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget.
9:30 am:
Nifty, Sensex Open Flat In Special Budget Session:
Domestic stock markets opened largely flat on Sunday during a special budget session, as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget at 11 am. The Nifty 50 index opened at 25,333.75, registering a marginal gain of 13.10 points or 0.05 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 82,445.97, up by 176.19 points or 0.21 per cent.
9:28 am:
'Jobless Growth Doesn't Help Anyone...': Shashi Tharoor
"We are all looking forward to hearing what the Finance Minister has to tell us. The Economic Survey projects good economic growth...Whether that growth is going to be accompanied by jobs? Jobless growth doesn't help anyone. So, we are anxious to see what kind of schemes they have in mind to generate more jobs in this country for young people of India," the Congress leader said.
"Apart from that, there will be many things. We in Kerala, with an election coming up, are looking to see what benefits the Central Govt might give us," Tharoor added.
9:17 am:
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman heads to Rashtrapati Bhawan to call on President Droupadi Murmu before presenting her ninth Union Budget.
9:12 am:
Big Tax Announcements Expected For Middle Class, Seniors & Salaried Taxpayers: Everybody's eyes will be on the Union Budget 2026, to see whether the government will make changes to income tax slabs or not. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, the government had reduced personal income tax rates in the previous budget, which directly affected tax collections. However, the report also suggests that the finance minister may still announce selective relief for certain groups, especially the middle class and salaried taxpayers.
9 am:
Madhya Pradesh Deputy CM Jagdish Devda said he belives that the uNion Budget 2026 will be people-centric.
8:57 am:
Sitharaman arrives at Finance Ministry ahead of the Union Budget 2026.
8:10 am
7:50 am
Nirmala Sitharaman's sweeping income tax and GST cuts, together with spending on infrastructure and the RBI's interest rate reductions, have so far helped the Indian economy withstand the punitive 50 per cent tariff US President Donald Trump has imposed on Indian goods. But now, she has to come up with measures to sustain the momentum. (PTI)
7:30 am
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a huge respite for taxpayers In Union Budget 2025, informing there will be zero income tax up to an annual income of ₹12 lakh.
7:20 am
Citizens can watch the broadcast of Sitharaman's speech through the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha LIVE feeds on the “Sansad TV” YouTube channel or via state-run Doordarshan (DD) television channels.
10:00 pm
BJP leader Ghulam Ali Khatana On Budget
"The country is progressing under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi...Nirmala Sitharaman is experienced. She will present a better budget than the previous government's. This budget will be for everyone, from infrastructure and technology to Digital India, farmers, and common people... Through 'Local for Vocal' and startups, PM Modi has put the country in the hands of its youth," BJP leader Ghulam Ali Khatana said on budget 2026.
9:00 pm
FM Nirmala Sitharaman To Focus More On Part B Of Budget Speech
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will reportedly focus more in detail on Part B than Part A of her budget speech. During earlier Union Budgets, most of the substance lay in Part A, while Part B was confined to tax and policy announcements. This time, Part B is expected to outline both short-term and long-term economical goals.
7:00 pm
Elderly Rights Groups Urge FM Nirmala Sitharaman To Restore Rail Concessions
Senior citizens’ organisations from Maharashtra have urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to overhaul policies for the elderly ahead of the Union Budget 2026. The Joint Action Committee demanded restoration of railway concessions, GST removal on elder care services and a universal monthly pension of ₹3,000 for non-taxpaying seniors.
