Budget Session of Parliament 2026: Key Dates, Phases and What Should You Expect?

India’s Budget Session of Parliament for 2026 is set to begin on January 28 and will continue until April 2, 2026, with a scheduled break between the two phases. The session has been approved by President Droupadi Murmu following the recommendation of the government.

This annual session is one of the most important periods in the parliamentary calendar, as it includes the presentation of the Union Budget and detailed discussions on government spending, taxation, and economic priorities.

Timeline and Phases of the Budget Session 2026

The Budget Session will be held in 2 phases.

The first phase will start on January 28, 2026, and conclude on February 13, 2026. After a recess, Parliament will reconvene for the second phase on March 9, 2026, with the session ending on April 2, 2026.

As per tradition, the session will open with the President’s address to a joint sitting of both Houses in the Lok Sabha chamber. This address outlines the government’s broad policy agenda and priorities for the year ahead.

Union Budget Presentation: Date Still Awaited

While the session dates have been confirmed, the exact date for the presentation of the Union Budget has not yet been announced. Since February 1, the usual Budget Day since 2017, falls on a Sunday in 2026, the government may choose an alternative date.

The Budget presentation remains the most closely watched event of the session, as it sets the direction for fiscal policy, public spending, and economic reforms.

Finance MinisterTo Present Her 9th Consecutive Budget, Making History

During this session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget. This will make her the only finance minister in India to achieve this milestone. With this, she will move closer to the record set by Morarji Desai, who presented ten Union Budgets across two separate tenures.

In comparison, former finance ministers P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee presented nine and eight budgets respectively during their time in office.

Read more: SIP Calculator: How SBI Focused Fund Turned a ₹10,000 SIP into ₹1.54 Crore in 20 Years?

Conclusion

The Budget Session 2026 will be significant not only because of the Union Budget but also due to its length and structured discussions across two phases. With key economic decisions expected during this period, the session will play a crucial role in shaping India’s financial and policy roadmap for the year ahead.

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