Just days ahead of the Economic Survey 2026 and the Union Budget 2026, expectations are running high for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Budget speech on Sunday, 1 February 2026.
Notably, this will be the first time in at least a decade that the India Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday.
The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on 28 January 2026 with a joint address by President Droupadi Murmu to both the Houses.
The House will also meet on 29 January, and at 11 am on the same day, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran is expected to present the Economic Survey.
This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the economy and is traditionally presented a day before the Union Budget.
The first half of the Budget Session will conclude on 13 February, while the second half will begin on 9 March, ending finally on 2 April, after which both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be adjourned sine die.
Budget 2026: What You Need to Know
The Union Budget 2026 will focus on driving India’s growth to new heights through strategic allocations to various sectors.
Key areas to watch include railways, infrastructure, urban development, manufacturing, automotive, defense, electronics, MSMEs, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence.
Other sectors such as healthcare, tourism, agriculture, and logistics are also expected to receive government support through targeted allocations.
Looking back at last year’s Budget 2025, Finance Minister Sitharaman had announced significant relief for Indian taxpayers. Income tax was reduced on earnings up to ₹12 lakh, benefitting millions of middle-class taxpayers.
For salaried individuals, the non-taxable income under the new tax regime increased to ₹12.75 lakh after standard deductions. The Budget also introduced the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which came into effect on 1 April.
Budget Expectations
As the nation prepares for Budget 2026, expectations are high across multiple sectors.
As per reports, Dr Kavita Kanabar, Associate Professor at Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Management Studies & Research, said, “Union Budget 2026 is expected to strengthen its focus on infrastructure, defence and exports by increasing capital expenditure and providing greater policy and tax clarity. This approach will aim to attract private investment, deepen public–private partnerships, and modernise key sectors such as rail, air, sea and digital infrastructure & other technologies.”
Digital infrastructure is also a major area of focus. Mint reported that Ravindra Rai, Managing Director and CEO of BOBCARD Limited, said, “From a Budget expectation standpoint, continued emphasis on digital payments, cybersecurity, and financial infrastructure would go a long way in strengthening trust across the ecosystem. These are foundational areas that directly impact how confidently consumers and businesses adopt digital credit.”
Another key initiative under the spotlight is the National Quantum Mission. Rahil Patel, Chief Growth Officer of QNu Labs, said, “The Union Budget is a critical inflection point for India’s digital and national security strategy. With the National Quantum Mission committing over INR 6,000 crore to build quantum capabilities, the next step must be securing India’s digital infrastructure for the post quantum era.”
The Budget is also expected to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. Crispino Lobo, Co-founder and Managing Trustee of WOTR, emphasized, “As India prepares its Annual Fiscal Budget, it is important to remember that the future of our food systems rests largely in the hands of smallholder farmers, men and women who cultivate less than two hectares of land, yet carry a disproportionate share of climate, market, and economic risk. Their realities are well known: limited access to affordable credit, highly volatile farm incomes, increasing exposure to climate extremes, inadequate access to quality inputs and appropriate technologies, and persistent post-harvest losses due to weak rural infrastructure.”
Team of officials assisting FM Sitharaman in preparing Budget 2026-27
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman starts to give finishing touches to her record ninth Budget in a row, she is being assisted by an experienced team of bureaucrats at the Finance Ministry, said reports.
Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget in the Lok Sabha on February 1 in the backdrop of 7.4 per cent growth rate and uncertain geopolitical environment. This is going to be the third full Budget of Modi 3.0 government.
The Union Budget 2026, scheduled for 1 February 2026 at 11 AM in the Lok Sabha, promises to be a critical roadmap for India’s economic growth, touching multiple sectors and addressing the aspirations of taxpayers, businesses, and farmers alike.