Budget session probably from January 28; Union Budget 2026 set to be tabled on February 1

The budget session of Parliament is scheduled to begin on January 28, with the Union Budget is scheduled to premiere on February 1, which falls on a Sunday.

According to a tentative schedule finalized by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, Speaker Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 28, marking the start of the first parliamentary session of the year.

Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, wrote in a message on X (formally Twitter): “On the recommendation of the Government of India, the Honorable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji approved the convening of both Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026. The session will begin on January 28, 2026 and continue until April 2, 2026. The first phase will end on February 13. 2026, with Parliament reconvening on March 9, 2026, an essential step towards meaningful debate and people-centered governance. »

Parliament will not sit on January 29 due to the retirement ceremony, while both houses are scheduled to meet on January 30, when the economic study is expected to be tabled.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will not meet on January 31, ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget on February 1.

After deliberations on the motion of thanks to the President’s speech and discussions on the budget, Parliament is expected to adjourn for a nearly month-long recess on February 13. The session will resume on March 9 and is expected to end on April 2.

Officials noted that Parliament usually adjourns on a Friday, but the session may end a day early due to Good Friday, April 3, and the following weekend.

The break during the budget session allows the standing committees linked to the departments to consider the grant demands of various Union ministries and departments.

From briefcase to tablet

Over the years, the presentation of the Union Budget has undergone a symbolic transformation. The traditional budget briefcase was replaced by a red “bahi khata” in 2019.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget using a digital tablet, marking an important step towards modernization.

Sitharaman also holds the record for the longest budget speech in Indian history at 2 hours and 42 minutes.