India will present the Union Budget 2026 on Sunday, February 1, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivering her ninth consecutive Budget speech at 11 am in Parliament, broadcast live on Sansad TV and other platforms.
The Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11 am IST in the Lok Sabha, Parliament House, New Delhi. The speech will be telecast live on Sansad TV and is also expected to be available on Doordarshan, major news channels and official government webcasts. This will be Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Budget, making her the first Indian Finance Minister to achieve this milestone.
The Economic Survey 2026, tabled in Parliament on January 29, projects India’s real GDP growth in the range of 6.8–7.2 per cent for FY27, driven by domestic demand and ongoing reforms. The Survey notes that macro fundamentals remain stable, with inflation expected to be somewhat higher than FY26 but not seen as a major risk to growth. On the fiscal side, the Centre’s fiscal deficit stood at about 62.3 per cent of the full-year Budget Estimate as of November 2025, while the government has reiterated its medium-term target of bringing the fiscal deficit to 4.4 per cent of GDP by FY26.
Broad-based, sweeping cuts in income tax slabs under the new regime are seen as unlikely, though there is hope for some targeted relief for specific segments such as middle-income salaried taxpayers and seniors. Micro, small and medium enterprises are expecting measures to improve access to formal credit, strengthen guarantee schemes, and ensure better last-mile delivery of existing incentives and schemes.
The healthcare sector is looking for lower customs duties on medical equipment and inputs, an expansion of Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) support, and higher allocations for rural, primary and digital healthcare infrastructure. Expectations include a possible increase in agriculture and allied sector spending, with estimates around the Rs 1.5 lakh crore mark, along with a focus on productivity, storage, processing and climate-resilient agriculture.
Stakeholders in real estate are pitching for stamp duty rationalisation and a wider definition of “affordable housing” to bring more units under preferential tax and interest subsidy norms. The Budget is expected to feature incentives for AI, robotics and other deep tech, plus investments in digital public infrastructure, high-speed connectivity and skilling for the digital economy.
There is strong anticipation of continued support for solar and other renewables, grid-scale storage, electric vehicles and clean mobility through tax breaks, capex support and expanded PLI-style schemes. Defence is likely to see a higher capital outlay, with emphasis on indigenous manufacturing, R&D and self-reliance in critical technologies under the “Make in India” and Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda.
Here Are The Live Updates on Union Budget 2026 :
