With the fiscal year’s fiscal highlight approaching, a wave of confusion has swept through taxpayers and investors: when exactly will Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present the Union Budget 2026? Although the Union Budget traditionally occurs on February 1, that day falls on a Sunday this year. There has been a debate as to whether the government will stick to its institutionalized date or delay the announcement until Monday, February 2.
The Verdict: Sunday or Monday?
The government tends to prefer tradition as per public reports and latest government news, including that at the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) meeting on January 7, 2026.
- Primary Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026 (Very Likely).
- Status: Formal confirmation expected in the final parliamentary notification today.
Why the Confusion?
Parliament usually does not sit on weekends, and the stock market closes on Sundays. But the government has prioritized “policy certainty” and the “February 1 tradition” that dates back to 2017 over the regular weekend break.
Why Is There a Confusion?
That confusion has its roots in a combination of logistical concerns as well as historical precedents. Here are the three basic arguments:
1. The Weekend Protocol Stock markets and government offices are closed on Sundays. A Budget presentation on Sunday means the immediate market’s response—considered typical of the so-called “Live Budget Trading” events—will not be able to occur until Monday unless a special trading session is announced by the NSE and BSE.
2. The Guru Ravidas Jayanti Factor February 1, 2026, also coincides with Guru Ravidas Jayanti, which is a restricted holiday in India. Some said such religious observance may prompt a reschedule to Monday.
3. Historical Shift Prior to 2017, the Budget was presented on the last working day of February. By moving this date to February 1, it was done to make sure all the legislative procedures had been completed before the new financial year starts on April 1. To reschedule to February 2 is also in itself something of a step away from that so-called “institutionalized” calendar, which some find less meaningful.
Is a ‘Sunday Budget’ Unprecedented?
Actually, no. The Parliament of India has before met on weekends for the Budget on previous occasions:
- 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Interim Budget on a Saturday (February 1, 2025).
- 1999: Former FM Yashwant Sinha presented the Budget on Sunday (February 27, 1999).
- 2016: Former FM Arun Jaitley delivered the Budget on Sunday, February 28.
