In a first for India’s parliamentary history, the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday this year. The General Budget for the financial year 2025–26 will be tabled in Parliament on Sunday, February 1, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced on Monday.
Traditionally, Parliament does not conduct regular business on weekends, making the decision to present the budget on a Sunday a historic moment.
Nirmala Sitharaman Nears a Historic Record
For Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, this budget is also a personal milestone. The upcoming presentation will be her ninth consecutive Union Budget, bringing her just one step away from the record set by former Finance Minister and Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented 10 budgets during his tenure.
Budget Session Schedule Announced
The full schedule of the Budget Session has also been outlined. The session will begin on January 28 and conclude on April 2, and will be held in two phases.
Key events at the start of the session include:
President’s Address: President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the session by addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament in the Lok Sabha chamber.
Economic Survey: Following the President’s address, the Finance Minister is expected to table the Economic Survey in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Two-Phase Budget Session
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has confirmed that the session will be divided to allow detailed scrutiny of budget proposals.
First Phase: January 28 to February 13
Break: February 13 to March 9, during which parliamentary committees will examine the demands for grants and budget allocations of various ministries
Second Phase: March 9 to April 2
The government has officially designated February 1 as ‘Budget Day’.
With the rare Sunday budget presentation and Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget, the upcoming session is expected to be significant both politically and economically. Markets, businesses, and citizens alike will be closely watching what this historic budget brings for the country’s economy.
