Budget speech live: Sitharaman will give her ninth consecutive budget speech at 11 am
Budget Speech Live: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026 at 11 am on Sunday, February 1, presenting the Budget for the ninth consecutive time and setting a new record for continuous tenure in the Finance Ministry. For the first time in the history of independent India, the budget will be presented on Sunday. Expectations are high ahead of the speech, with government sources saying it will look completely different from the speeches given in the last seven decades.
This year, the focus is expected to shift decisively to Part B of the budget speech, which deals with taxation and fiscal proposals, away from the traditional emphasis on Part A which outlines policy initiatives and sectoral plans. Sitharaman’s speech is expected to devote considerable time to taxation, receipts, expenditure and fiscal strategy for the fiscal year from April 2026 to March 2027, as first reported by HT. to follow union budget 2026 live
Income tax relief in focus
Like previous years, Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech was the most watched income tax announcement. Individuals who got relief last year through higher exemption limit and GST rate cut are expecting further measures, especially an increase in the standard deduction. to follow income tax 2026 live updates
Expectations are also high regarding reforms and planned government spending, even as the broader focus remains on fiscal management and legislative fiscal proposals. to follow stock market live updates
What is on the agenda of Lok Sabha today?
According to the business list of the Lok Sabha, the House will meet at 11 am. Sitharaman will present details of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for 2026-27.
She will also table two statements as mandated under Section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003. These include the Medium Term Fiscal Policy-cum-Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement and the Macro-Economic Framework Statement.
Finance Bill will be introduced
The agenda further states that Sitharaman will seek permission to introduce the Finance Bill, 2026 and formally introduce it in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Bill gives legal backing to the taxation and financial proposals of the government announced in the Budget.
Economic Survey 2025-26
Ahead of the Budget, Sitharaman, following a long-standing tradition, presented the Economic Survey of India for 2025-26 in Parliament on Thursday.
Often described as an annual “report card” of the economy, the survey explains the rationale behind upcoming fiscal decisions by analyzing trends, challenges and growth drivers, while the budget presents future spending and taxation plans.
PM Modi spoke on Sitharaman’s budget speech
Sitharaman, who took charge of the Finance Ministry on May 31, 2019, will become the longest serving Finance Minister to hold the post continuously. He completes six years and eight months in office on January 31, 2026, and Sunday’s presentation will mark his record ninth consecutive budget.
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sitharaman presenting the budget for the ninth consecutive time “will be recorded as a glory in the parliamentary history of India”.
What time will the budget speech start?
FM Sitharaman is scheduled to begin her Union Budget 2026 speech in the Lok Sabha at 11 am on Sunday. The Budget Address generally lasts for about 90 to 120 minutes, after which the Finance Bill is formally introduced in Parliament.
Where to watch budget 2026
Budget speech will be telecast live on multiple platforms Hindustan Times. Viewers can watch the proceedings on Parliament TV and Doordarshan, while the official livestream will also be available on the India Budget portal and. budgetlive.nic.in Website. The speech will be streamed on Sansad TV and PIB India YouTube channels.
Are stock markets open today?
Indian stock markets open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, with a special live trading session scheduled to coincide with the presentation of the Union Budget 2026.
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This year, the focus is expected to shift decisively to Part B of the budget speech, which deals with taxation and fiscal proposals, away from the traditional emphasis on Part A which outlines policy initiatives and sectoral plans. Sitharaman’s speech is expected to devote considerable time to taxation, receipts, expenditure and fiscal strategy for the fiscal year from April 2026 to March 2027, as first reported by HT. to follow union budget 2026 live
Income tax relief in focus
Like previous years, Nirmala Sitharaman’s speech was the most watched income tax announcement. Individuals who got relief last year through higher exemption limit and GST rate cut are expecting further measures, especially an increase in the standard deduction. to follow income tax 2026 live updates
Expectations are also high regarding reforms and planned government spending, even as the broader focus remains on fiscal management and legislative fiscal proposals. to follow stock market live updates
What is on the agenda of Lok Sabha today?
According to the business list of the Lok Sabha, the House will meet at 11 am. Sitharaman will present details of the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for 2026-27.
She will also table two statements as mandated under Section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003. These include the Medium Term Fiscal Policy-cum-Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement and the Macro-Economic Framework Statement.
Finance Bill will be introduced
The agenda further states that Sitharaman will seek permission to introduce the Finance Bill, 2026 and formally introduce it in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Bill gives legal backing to the taxation and financial proposals of the government announced in the Budget.
Economic Survey 2025-26
Ahead of the Budget, Sitharaman, following a long-standing tradition, presented the Economic Survey of India for 2025-26 in Parliament on Thursday.
Often described as an annual “report card” of the economy, the survey explains the rationale behind upcoming fiscal decisions by analyzing trends, challenges and growth drivers, while the budget presents future spending and taxation plans.
PM Modi spoke on Sitharaman’s budget speech
Sitharaman, who took charge of the Finance Ministry on May 31, 2019, will become the longest serving Finance Minister to hold the post continuously. He completes six years and eight months in office on January 31, 2026, and Sunday’s presentation will mark his record ninth consecutive budget.
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sitharaman presenting the budget for the ninth consecutive time “will be recorded as a glory in the parliamentary history of India”.
What time will the budget speech start?
FM Sitharaman is scheduled to begin her Union Budget 2026 speech in the Lok Sabha at 11 am on Sunday. The Budget Address generally lasts for about 90 to 120 minutes, after which the Finance Bill is formally introduced in Parliament.
Where to watch budget 2026
Budget speech will be telecast live on multiple platforms Hindustan Times. Viewers can watch the proceedings on Parliament TV and Doordarshan, while the official livestream will also be available on the India Budget portal and. budgetlive.nic.in Website. The speech will be streamed on Sansad TV and PIB India YouTube channels.
Are stock markets open today?
Indian stock markets open on Sunday, February 1, 2026, with a special live trading session scheduled to coincide with the presentation of the Union Budget 2026.
Follow all updates here:
February 01, 2026 8:30:22 am First
Budget Speech Live: Sitharaman leaves for Finance Ministry ahead of Union Budget 2026-27
Budget Speech Live: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman left her residence this morning to go to the Finance Ministry ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026-27.
The budget speech is scheduled for 11 am in the Lok Sabha, which is his ninth consecutive budget presentation.
February 01, 2026 8:26:24 am First
Budget speech live: Sitharaman holds the record for the longest budget speech
Budget Speech Live: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds the record for giving the longest Union Budget speech. In 2020, his budget speech lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes, making it the longest in India’s parliamentary history.
February 01, 2026 8:21:53 am First
Budget Speech 2026: Focus likely to be on jobs, capital expenditure and fiscal discipline
Budget Speech 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to prioritize increasing job creation while maintaining fiscal prudence in the Union Budget, as India deals with geopolitical risks amid US tariffs.
The budget speech, scheduled for 11 am, is likely to see higher government spending on infrastructure such as roads, ports and railways to sustain demand and create jobs. The measures are aimed at protecting the world’s fastest-growing major economy from external headwinds, according to a survey of economists by Bloomberg News.
Economists also expect the government to announce a lower fiscal deficit target of 4.2% of GDP for the fiscal year starting April.
February 01, 2026 8:14:39 am First
Budget speech LIVE: Sitharaman’s record tenure as finance minister
Budget Speech Live: Sitharaman, who took charge of the Finance Ministry on May 31, 2019, will become the longest serving Finance Minister to hold the post continuously. He has led the ministry through the COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical turmoil, during which India emerged as the fastest growing major economy.
He completes six years and eight months in office on January 31, 2026, and Sunday’s presentation will mark his record ninth consecutive budget.
Ahead of the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Sitharaman presenting the budget for the ninth consecutive time “will be recorded as a glory in the parliamentary history of India”.
Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had presented the Union Budget 10 times, while P Chidambaram had presented it nine times, though not consecutively. The longest uninterrupted tenure before Sitharaman was that of CD Deshmukh, who served as Finance Minister for almost six years and two months from June 1950.
February 01, 2026 8:08:02 am First
Budget speech live: Sitharaman’s speech with ‘unprecedented focus’ on Part B
Budget Speech Live: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget speech, Sunday’s much-awaited event, is expected to put “unprecedented emphasis” on Part B of the Union Budget 2026-27, as HT earlier reported citing government sources.
The Budget speech is likely to look markedly different from those given over the past 75 years, with the second part talking about taxation, receipts, expenditure and fiscal strategy.
February 01, 2026 7:59:38 am First
Budget speech LIVE: What time will the budget speech start?
Budget Speech Live: FM Sitharaman is scheduled to begin her Union Budget 2026 speech in the Lok Sabha on Sunday at 11 am. The Budget Address generally lasts for about 90 to 120 minutes, after which the Finance Bill is formally introduced in Parliament.
