Cabinet Panel Weighs February 1 Sunday Budget Presentation

New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs has agreed to propose January 28 as the tentative start date for the Budget Session of Parliament, with February 1 earmarked for the presentation of the Union Budget. While the dates are yet to receive final approval, deliberations indicate a strong preference for retaining the established budget timeline.
The Budget Session, which is the first parliamentary session of the year, traditionally begins with the President’s address to a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. This address outlines the government’s broad policy direction and legislative priorities for the year ahead, setting the tone for subsequent debates and discussions.
The Union Budget has been presented on February 1 for several consecutive years. In 2026, the date falls on a Sunday, but the government is unlikely to alter the schedule. Maintaining the February 1 presentation is being seen as a step toward ensuring predictability and stability in fiscal planning and financial processes. Officials believe consistency in budget timelines helps markets, businesses, and institutions prepare more effectively for the upcoming financial year.
Discussions within the Cabinet panel also considered January 31 as an alternative start date for the session, though January 28 appears to have gained wider support. A final announcement on the schedule is expected shortly.
The Budget Session is usually conducted in two phases, with a recess in between. The break allows parliamentary standing committees to examine the demands for grants of various ministries in detail, following which the House reconvenes to debate and vote on them. Like previous sessions, the upcoming Budget Session is expected to witness the introduction and discussion of several key legislative proposals.
The timing of the session is also significant as India is set to host the AI Impact Summit next month, adding to the government’s packed policy and diplomatic calendar.
The shift to a February 1 budget presentation, first implemented in 2017, was part of a broader effort to reform fiscal governance by aligning budgetary decisions more closely with the start of the financial year. The proposed schedule reflects the continuation of that approach.