Parliament’s Budget Session begins 28 January; Union Budget set for Sunday, 1 February

Parliament’s Budget Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and continue until 2 April 2026 in two phases, as the government readies the legislative calendar for the year’s most important financial exercise. The schedule includes a break between phases, with the first leg ending in mid-February and the second leg resuming in March.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has confirmed that the Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on Sunday, 1 February 2026, putting to rest speculation that the date could change because it falls on a weekend. The Budget is expected to be tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Budget sessions typically begin with the President’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, followed by the tabling of the Economic Survey and the Budget, and then detailed scrutiny of demands for grants. Over the weeks that follow, Parliament debates policy priorities, revenue proposals and spending plans, and takes up other legislative business.

The long session also creates an arena for political contestation, as opposition parties test the government on inflation, jobs, welfare delivery and federal issues, while the ruling side seeks to defend its fiscal strategy and legislative agenda. With the Budget being watched closely by markets, industry and states, floor statements and committee discussions can influence expectations beyond what is written in the finance bill.

Officials have indicated the timing and phasing of the session are designed to allow a full debate on Budget proposals while accommodating other political and administrative considerations later in the quarter. For MPs, the February calendar is expected to be packed with both legislative and constituency-facing engagements as the Budget narrative develops.

For households and businesses, the Budget day itself can set the tone on taxes, capital expenditure, sectoral incentives and social spending, while subsequent parliamentary debate often reveals how government plans may be implemented, amended or negotiated. The coming weeks will therefore be closely tracked for signals on fiscal consolidation, growth priorities and reform sequencing.