Today, the Union Budget 2026, which will determine the direction of the country's economic future, is going to be presented. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present this budget in the Lok Sabha today, February 1, and the entire nation is focused on this budget. This year's budget is considered extremely important against the backdrop of issues like inflation, unemployment, farmers' problems, the tax burden on the middle class, and the pace of economic development.
This is Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget. Notably, this is the first time the budget is being presented on a Sunday. Therefore, this year's budget is going to be historic in many ways. Everyone is keen to see if the common citizens, salaried class, and middle class, who are troubled by inflation, will get tax relief.
From common people to farmers, small traders, entrepreneurs, women, and youth, everyone has high expectations from this budget. The budget will provide a clear indication of which schemes the government will implement in the coming year and which sectors will be given more emphasis. Everyone is also focused on the direction the government will take in areas like infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, the digital economy, and job creation.
Meanwhile, even though today is Sunday, the stock market will remain open for trading. Therefore, the tax structure, investment policy, capital expenditure, and announcements providing relief to industries in the budget are likely to have a direct and immediate impact on investors in the stock market. The budget's impact can particularly be seen on shares related to banking, infrastructure, IT, defense, and agriculture sectors. The budget speech by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will begin at 11 AM in the Lok Sabha. This speech will outline the government's economic policies, providing a clear picture of revenue, expenditure, and deficit for the upcoming financial year.
Meanwhile, the budget session of Parliament will be held in two phases. The first phase will be from January 28 to February 13, and the second phase will be from March 9 to April 2. A total of 30 meetings will be held during this entire session. Overall, the entire nation is watching to see if this budget will not just be a game of numbers but will provide relief to the common people and accelerate the country's economy.