In a rare and historic move, India’s stock markets will remain open on a Sunday as the Union Budget 2026 is presented. After a gap of 26 years, the country will once again witness budget day trading on a non-working day. Both the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) have officially confirmed that trading will take place on Sunday, February 1, 2026, the day the Union Budget is scheduled to be presented in Parliament.
This development has drawn significant attention from investors, market participants, and policymakers alike, as Sunday trading is an uncommon event in India’s financial history.
Budget 2026 will be presented on Sunday, February 1, marking the first time since February 28, 1999, that the Union Budget is delivered on a Sunday. The last such instance occurred during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, when then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha presented the Budget on a Sunday.
At that time, the government also broke another long-standing tradition by changing the budget presentation time from 5:00 PM to 11:00 AM. Prior to 1999, the Union Budget was traditionally presented in the evening. Since then, the morning presentation has become the norm.
Sunday budget sessions are rare primarily because Parliament generally does not convene on Sundays. Apart from 1999, there has been no instance of a Sunday budget presentation—until now.
Both major stock exchanges have clarified that trading on Budget Day will follow normal market hours, with no special sessions or shortened timings.
In an official circular, the NSE stated that live trading will be conducted as per regular market timings on February 1, 2026, despite it being a Sunday. The BSE has also confirmed the same, ensuring continuity across equity, derivatives, and other trading segments.
This means investors will be able to buy and sell shares, trade derivatives, and react to budget announcements in real time, even as the Finance Minister delivers the budget speech.
The Lok Sabha Speaker has already confirmed that the Union Budget 2026 will be presented at 11:00 AM on February 1, 2026. Importantly, the stock market will remain operational during the budget speech, allowing investors to respond immediately to policy announcements, tax changes, and sector-specific measures.
This approach is designed to enhance transparency and ensure that market reactions are aligned with real-time information, rather than delayed responses on the next trading day.
While Sunday trading is rare, keeping the stock market open on budget day itself is not a new concept. Over the past several years, the practice of keeping markets open during the budget presentation has become standard.
The primary objective behind this is to allow investors to instantly price in budget-related announcements, reduce speculation, and improve overall market efficiency. Immediate trading also helps prevent excessive volatility that might otherwise occur when markets reopen after a gap.
Budget 2026 will be a significant milestone for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, as it will be her ninth consecutive Union Budget. She has previously presented budgets on Saturdays as well, reflecting a departure from the traditional weekday-only presentations.
Former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had also presented Union Budgets on Saturdays in 2015 and 2016, indicating that the government has been flexible with calendar conventions to meet administrative and economic objectives.
It is worth noting that since 2017, the government has moved the budget presentation date from February 28 to February 1. The aim behind this change was to ensure that budget announcements, schemes, and policy measures can be implemented from the very beginning of the new financial year on April 1.
This shift allows ministries and departments sufficient time to prepare and roll out programs without delays, improving execution and fiscal planning.
The decision to keep markets open on Sunday reflects the growing importance of transparency and real-time participation in India’s financial ecosystem. Investors should be prepared for heightened volatility, as budget announcements often trigger sharp movements across sectors such as banking, infrastructure, taxation, capital markets, and consumer goods.
With Budget 2026 being presented on a Sunday after 26 years, the event is set to become a landmark moment in India’s economic and market history, blending tradition with modern market practices.
