The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) has proposed January 28 for the commencement of the 2026 Budget Session. In a move to prioritize fiscal predictability, the government is likely to present the Union Budget on February 1, despite it being a Sunday.
This session, the first of the calendar year, traditionally opens with the President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses, followed by the Economic Survey on January 29. Since 2017, the Budget has been advanced to February 1 to ensure all proposals are implemented by the start of the new financial year on April 1.
The session will be split into two parts, allowing standing committees to scrutinize ministry-wise demands during the recess. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to make history with her ninth consecutive budget, as the government prepares to introduce several key legislative bills alongside the fiscal roadmap.