Are MCX and NCDEX Open or Closed on February 1, 2026, for the Union Budget 2026?

India’s commodity markets will operate on a Sunday for the first time to coincide with the Union Budget 2026. This marks a major departure from long-standing weekend closure norms followed by domestic exchanges.

MCX will open for trading on a Sunday for the first time since it began operations in 2003. The Budget will also be presented on a Sunday, making it only the second time a Union Budget has been tabled on a weekend.

Special Trading Schedule Announced for Budget Day

MCX has released a special trading timetable to align with the Budget presentation on Sunday. The exchange will commence a unique live session from 8:45 am to 8:59 am (IST), a format introduced specifically for Budget-linked volatility.

Regular trading will then follow from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (IST). The client code modification window will remain active slightly longer, from 9:00 am to 5:15 pm (IST), to accommodate post-trade adjustments.

Commodity Exchanges Break from Long-Standing Practice

This is the first time since its 2003 launch that MCX will conduct trading on a Sunday. NCDEX will also open for trading, marking a coordinated shift across major commodity platforms.

NCDEX has scheduled a pre-open session at 9:45 am, followed by live trading between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm (IST). Its client code modification window will remain functional from 10:00 am to 5:15 pm (IST), consistent with its standard post-trade process.

Historical Context of Weekend Budget Trading

While commodity exchanges typically remain closed on weekends, Sunday trading is not entirely unprecedented across Indian markets. Last year, the Union Budget was presented on February 1, 2025, a Saturday, during which exchanges operated normally.

A similar exception occurred on February 28, 1999, when NSE and BSE opened on a Sunday for the Union Budget 1999–2000 presented by then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha. These instances highlight the exceptional nature of Budget-linked trading days in India’s financial market history.

Stock Exchanges to Remain Open on Budget Day

Alongside commodity exchanges, NSE and BSE will also open on the Sunday of the Union Budget 2026. Both equity exchanges have previously operated on weekends under similar circumstances, ensuring continuity in price discovery.

Their participation aligns with the broader financial market schedule for the Budget presentation. This coordination ensures that traders, investors, and intermediaries have uninterrupted access to market activity throughout the announcement window.

Read More: Are Indian Stock Market Open Today.

Conclusion

The scheduling of the Union Budget 2026 on a Sunday has prompted a rare operational shift across India’s financial markets. MCX and NCDEX will open for Sunday sessions for the first time to support real-time participation during the Budget’s announcement.

Equity exchanges NSE and BSE will also operate, maintaining consistency with prior weekend Budget events. The development marks a noteworthy moment in market operations, reflecting the significance of aligning trading with key policy disclosures.

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