Union Budget 2026: When and where to watch FM Nirmala Sitharaman live and download budget documents?

Union Budget for 2026-27 will be presented in Parliament today, on Sunday, February 1. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to deliver the Budget speech at 11 am Indian Standard Time (IST). This will be her ninth consecutive Budget presentation in the Lok Sabha, a record in India’s parliamentary history.

The annual Union Budget is one of the most closely watched events on India’s economic calendar. It provides an overview of the Central government’s income and expenditure, fiscal roadmap, policy priorities, and tax proposals for the coming financial year. The Budget speech is expected to last between one hour and one and a half hours.

Sitharaman became Finance Minister on May 31, 2019. By January 31, 2026, she completed six years and eight months in office, making her the longest-serving finance minister in continuous office. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the ninth consecutive Budget presentation as a moment of pride in India’s parliamentary tradition.

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The presentation will follow long-standing parliamentary tradition. Viewers are advised to tune in a few minutes early to avoid missing the opening proceedings.

NSE, BSE to Hold Special Trading Session on February 1

The Indian stock market will remain open on Sunday, February 1, despite it being a weekend, as a special trading session will be held on the day of the Union Budget 2026.

Both the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) will operate during normal trading hours from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm. Equity and derivatives markets will function as usual, allowing investors and traders to react to Budget announcements in real time.

However, settlement-related rules will be different as February 1 has been declared a settlement holiday.

Finance Ministers with Long Tenures

Several finance ministers in India’s history have had long tenures. Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai presented the Union Budget ten times, while P Chidambaram presented it nine times, though none delivered consecutive annual Budgets like Sitharaman.

Other senior finance ministers with long tenures include C D Deshmukh, Manmohan Singh, Pranab Mukherjee, Arun Jaitley, and Yashwant Sinha. R K Shanmukham Chetty was India’s first finance minister after Independence.

Budget Speech and Documents Access

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for 2026-27. She will also lay on the Table the Medium-term Fiscal Policy cum Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement and the Macro-economic Framework Statement under section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003. The Finance Bill, 2026, will also be introduced in Parliament.

The Budget speech can be watched live from 11 am onwards on Sansad TV, DD News, and the official website indiabudget.gov.in. It will also be streamed on the YouTube channels of Sansad TV and the Press Information Bureau (PIB), alongside real-time coverage by Zee Business Managing Editor Anil Singhvi.

Once the speech concludes, all official Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Demands for Grants, and the Finance Bill, will be available online. These can be accessed through the Union Budget mobile app and the Union Budget web portal, indiabudget.gov.in. The app is available in English and Hindi for both Android and iOS devices, providing easy digital access for Members of Parliament and the public.

Parliament Budget Session 2026 Timeline

The Budget Session of Parliament began on January 28 and will conclude on April 2, 2026. The session includes a total of 30 sittings, with the first part comprising 13 sittings and the second part 17 sittings.

A recess will be observed from February 13 to March 9, 2026. During the recess, Standing Committees will examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and submit their reports to Parliament.

The Union Budget outlines the government’s key spending priorities, taxation policies, and developmental plans. It is closely monitored by households, businesses, investors, and financial markets across the country. The 2026 Budget will offer the first official look at the government’s fiscal and policy agenda for the financial year 2026-27.

Finance Minister Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Budget presentation marks a historic milestone in India’s parliamentary history. Her speech is expected to set the tone for economic policy and development priorities for the year ahead.

Budget Session of the Parliament

Nirmala Sitharaman to present a statement of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for the year 2026-27.

Nirmala Sitharamanto lay on the Table the following Statements under section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003:-

1. Medium-term Fiscal Policy cum Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement; and
2. Macro-economic Framework Statement.

Nirmala Sitharaman to move for leave to introduce the Finance Bill, 2026. Also, to introduce the Bill.