New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present the union Budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year on February 1, 2026 despite the date falling on a Sunday, highly placed sources on Friday said.
While the February 1 date has become a fixture in the Indian parliamentary calendar since 2017, the union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs noted that a final decision rests with the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (PAC).
The committee is expected to meet soon to chalk out the official schedule and determine if the House will convene on a weekend for the high-profile presentation. Presenting a budget on a Sunday, while rare, is not without historical precedent. The government has previously adjusted parliamentary sittings to accommodate legislative requirements:
On February 28, 1999 former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha famously presented the budget on a Sunday. This session was also historic for shifting the presentation time from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 a.m., ending a British colonial-era tradition. Also, weekend presentations have occurred more frequently on Saturdays, notably in 2001, 2004, 2015, and 2016.
The Parliament has a history of convening on Sundays for significant milestones or urgent legislative business. On May 13, 2012, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha held special Sunday sessions to mark the 60th anniversary of the first sitting of the Indian Parliament.
During the September 2020 Monsoon Session, Parliament functioned through both Saturdays and Sundays to recover time lost to the COVID-19 pandemic—marking a rare instance of a routine session utilizing both weekend days. In 1977 and 1991, the Rajya Sabha held special Sunday sittings to decide on the extension of President’s Rule in certain states while the Lok Sabha was dissolved.
Market analysts and taxpayers are closely watching the PAC’s upcoming schedule. If the Sunday presentation is confirmed, it is expected that the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) may also hold special trading sessions to react to the Finance Minister’s announcements in real-time.
