Budget 2026: Why Is the Union Budget Presented on February 1 at 11 AM? Know the Reason

Every year, the Union Budget is one of the most closely watched events in India, as it sets the financial roadmap for the country. Traditionally, the budget is presented on February 1 by the Finance Minister, and for the past several years, this responsibility has been shouldered by Nirmala Sitharaman . This year too, she will present the Union Budget. However, there is a buzz because February 1 falls on a Sunday, raising questions about whether the budget will still be presented on that day. As of now, the government has not issued any official clarification, so the final call is still awaited.

Why is the Union Budget presented on February 1?

Interestingly, February 1 was not always budget day. Before 2017, India followed a British-era practice of presenting the budget on the last working day of February. This often led to delays, as there was limited time to pass and implement proposals before the new financial year began on April 1.

To fix this, the government decided to shift the budget date to February 1. The idea was simple: give states and central ministries enough time to prepare and roll out new policies smoothly from the start of the financial year. This change was introduced by then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in 2017, and the February 1 tradition has continued ever since.

Why is the budget presented at 11 AM?

The budget’s timing has also evolved over the years. Until 1999, it was presented at 5 PM, another legacy of colonial times. That year, Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha moved the presentation to 11 AM. A morning budget allows Parliament, experts, markets, and the public to absorb and debate the announcements throughout the day, making discussions more meaningful and timely.

In short, both the date and time of the Union Budget have been carefully chosen to ensure smoother implementation, better understanding, and wider discussion, making it a key event not just for policymakers, but for every citizen.