India’s stock exchanges will hold a regular live trading session on the Union Budget 2026–27 on February 1, despite it being a Sunday.
Historically, Budget presentations have been held on February 1, with markets opening for trading even when the date falls on a weekend.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026–27 at 11 am in the Lok Sabha on February 1.
The National Stock Exchange said in a circular, “On account of the presentation of the Union Budget, members are requested to note that the Exchange shall be conducting a live trading session on February 1, 2026, as per the standard market timings (9:15 am–3:30 pm).”
As it is a settlement holiday, shares purchased on January 30 will not be eligible for sale on February 1. Similarly, stocks bought on Budget Day cannot be offloaded the following day.
Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Budget, one of the longest uninterrupted tenures by a finance minister. This will also be the second full Budget since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) came to power for a third consecutive term in 2024.
A recent report said investors are likely to focus on debt metrics, the fiscal deficit outcome, and scheduled borrowings in the upcoming Budget to align with strategic objectives. Analysts expect borrowings to rise modestly by about 3 per cent year-on-year, implying an FY27 fiscal deficit of around 4.1–4.2 per cent of GDP, consistent with the ongoing fiscal consolidation path.
The Department of Economic Affairs leads the preparation of the Budget documents, which will detail the government’s estimates for expenditure, revenue, and new schemes for the coming fiscal year.
The Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled on January 29, followed by a press briefing by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and senior officials.
—IANS
