Nirmala Sitharaman to Present Ninth Straight Budget, Focus on Growth, Jobs and Part B Reforms

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget in Parliament on Sunday, aiming to keep the Indian economy in a “Goldilocks” zone of high growth and low inflation while navigating global uncertainties and trade tensions.

Unlike previous years, Budget 2026 is expected to place greater emphasis on Part B of the budget speech, which outlines policy measures and implementation plans. Government sources said Sitharaman is likely to devote significant time to this section, marking a departure from earlier speeches where it featured only limited announcements.

According to officials, Part B will highlight both short-term priorities and long-term economic goals, reflecting India’s vision as it advances further into the 21st century.

Key Priorities

Job creation and measures to accelerate GDP growth are expected to be at the top of the agenda. The budget is also likely to focus on boosting infrastructure spending and reforming trade policies, particularly as private investment hit a decade-low in the year ended March 2024, according to ICRA.

To offset weak private investment, the government raised capital expenditure by 30 percent in FY24, a trend that may continue in Budget 2026.

For taxpayers, additional relief is expected under the new tax regime, including a possible increase in standard deduction and the introduction of joint income tax return filing for couples.

Sitharaman is also expected to stay committed to fiscal consolidation, with the government shifting focus toward reducing India’s debt-to-GDP ratio rather than relying solely on fiscal deficit targets, projected at 4.2 percent for FY27.

Budget Timing and Live Coverage

The finance minister is scheduled to begin her budget speech in the Lok Sabha at 11:00 am. The address is expected to last 90 to 120 minutes, followed by the tabling of the Finance Bill.

The budget can be watched live on:

• Sansad TV and Doordarshan

• budgetlive.nic.in and the India Budget Portal

• Sansad TV and PIB India YouTube channels

Market Activity on Budget Day

The Indian stock market is open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for a special trading session to coincide with the budget presentation.

Key rules for the session include:

• No same-day (T+0) settlement

• Stocks bought on Friday cannot be sold on Sunday

• Stocks bought on Sunday can be sold only from Monday

• Sale proceeds from Friday trades will be credited on Monday

Commodity markets are also open, with MCX operating from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and NCDEX from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.