Parliament is about to get a “Sunday Service” of a different kind. As of Thursday, January 8, 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has officially greenlit a plan to present the Union Budget on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
The thing is, presenting a budget on a Sunday is basically unheard of in recent memory. Most years, if the 1st falls on a weekend, there’s a debate about shifting it. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the government is leaning hard into “predictability” here—keeping the date fixed regardless of the calendar. Those too.
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The “Budget 2026” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to break records while the rest of us are still finishing our Sunday brunch.
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The Record Streak: This will be Sitharaman’s 9th consecutive budget. She’s officially chasing down Morarji Desai’s all-time record of 10.
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The Timeline: The session kicks off on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu’s address. Then we get the Economic Survey on January 29.
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The “Sunday” Logistics: Since the stock markets and government offices are usually shut on Sundays, this creates a weird vacuum. Expect the markets to hold a special “muhurat-style” trading session just for the budget speech.
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The Theme: Sources say the President’s speech will focus on “shedding the colonial mentality”—part of the ongoing Panch Pran pledge. This explains why they’re sticking to the 11 AM slot (a shift from the old 5 PM British-era slot) even on a holiday.
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Key Dates: Parliament Budget Session 2026
[Table: The Road to Feb 1]
| Date | Event | Significance |
| Jan 28 (Wed) | President’s Address | Sets the “Reform, Perform, Transform” tone. |
| Jan 29 (Thu) | Economic Survey | The “Report Card” of the Indian economy. |
| Jan 30-31 | Parliamentary Break | Likely holidays before the big push. |
| Feb 1 (Sun) | Union Budget | FM Sitharaman’s 9th Budget at 11:00 AM. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
India isn’t just talking about money in February; we’re talking about the future. Right after the budget dust settles, New Delhi will host the AI Impact Summit (Feb 19-20) at Bharat Mandapam. The thing is, the budget is expected to have massive outlays for the “IndiaAI Mission” to prep for this summit.
The budget itself is being framed under the shadow of global tariff wars and geopolitical messiness. Expect some “defense shields” in the form of tax tweaks for middle-class taxpayers who have been feeling the squeeze. It’s an ongoing situation where the government wants to show the world that India’s growth (projected at 7.4%) is “unavoidable.”
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End…
