Union Budget 2026

Indian Union Budget speeches have varied significantly in length. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds the record for the longest speech, speaking for 2 hours and 42 minutes in 2020.

A FICCI Pre-Budget Survey 2026-27 finds strong industry optimism, with nearly 80% confident in India's growth and about half expecting 7-8% GDP growth. Key recommendations focus on job creation, infrastructure, manufacturing, and exports.

Ahead of the Union Budget 2026, Indian taxpayers are calling for a simpler, fairer tax system. Key demands include introducing a single Income Tax Return (ITR) form to reduce complexity and errors.

In Budget 2026, salaried employees are expecting income tax concessions. Last year's Budget 2025 brought significant changes like tax exemption up to Rs 12.75 lakh.

For the Union Budget 2026 presentation, the stock market will stay open on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Both the NSE and BSE will run a live trading session with normal hours. Trading will be on.

The Union Budget 2026 is expected to set an 8.5-9% growth target, with capital expenditure rising to Rs 12-12.2 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit is likely to be lowered, with a key focus on supporting MSMEs and exports, says a BoB economist.

Ahead of the 2026-27 Union Budget, companies and consumers anticipate measures to lower prices and increase disposable income. Key proposals include reducing GST on everyday goods to 5% to stimulate spending.

Congress's Jairam Ramesh voices concern over the upcoming Union Budget, citing the 16th Finance Commission's impact on states and a new cost-sharing formula. He also warns of sluggish investment, low savings, and rising inequality.

Ahead of Union Budget 2026, startups call for stronger incentives, easier credit, and simplified compliance. Leaders point to implementation gaps in funding schemes, taxation, and regulations that hinder early-stage ventures' growth.

Karnataka demands revenue protection post-GST, sharing of tobacco excise duty, and release of pending Central dues for schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission. It also seeks changes to MGNREGA and more funds for agriculture and social protection.

EY India's report notes Union Budget 2026 is key for medium-term growth, urging reliance on domestic demand and sustained public capex. It suggests a 15-20% capex growth to achieve a 6.5% average growth, while maintaining fiscal discipline.

Nirmala Sitharaman holds the record for the longest Union Budget speech, while Thomas Isaac has the longest Kerala Budget speech, and K.N. Balagopal delivered a notably lengthy Kerala Budget speech in 2025.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget aims to alleviate middle-class concerns, revising tax slabs to virtually zero for those earning up to Rs 12 lakh, benefiting nearly 1 crore people.

An analysis of Sitharaman’s Budget speech revealed the word "tax" stood out as the most frequently used term, appearing 87 times—underscoring the centrality of taxation policies in this fiscal blueprint.

Union Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha that the government's target is to add 4 crore new passengers through the Udan scheme. She said that small airports will be built in hilly areas.