Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget for 2026-27 in Parliament today, February 1st. She will begin her budget speech at 11 AM. This will be the second full budget after the NDA government came to power for the third consecutive time in 2024.  With this, Nirmala Sitharaman will become the first woman Finance Minister of the country to present the budget for the ninth consecutive time. There is considerable enthusiasm and expectations among all sections of society regarding the Union Budget 2026.

While it is expected that the Union Budget will include measures to empower the weaker and underprivileged sections of society, there will also be provisions to address inflation, simplify taxes, and provide relief to businesses. Economists say that this time the budget will focus on the development of defense, infrastructure, capital expenditure (capex), the power sector, and affordable housing.

According to Mr. Akshit Bansal, CEO and Founder, Statik, as preparations are underway for the 2026-27 budget presentation, addressing urban air pollution should be at the top of our national priorities. Last year in 2025, cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru saw AQI levels exceeding 400, exposing residents to dangerous health risks ranging from respiratory illnesses to heart diseases. The most vulnerable were the sick and children. This year, we need to take bold, trackable steps under a major initiative for electric mobility and clean public transport to bring about a real improvement in air quality.

Budget 2026 Live: Focus on Funding Ecosystem
Budget 2026 Live: KS Bhatia, Co-Founder of MrProptek, has urged the Honorable Finance Minister to introduce a zero capital gains tax regime for angel investors and venture capitalists investing in Indian startups. This progressive step will have a far-reaching and transformative impact on India's startup ecosystem. The elimination of capital gains tax on startup investments will incentivize domestic and global investors to invest more capital in Indian startups.

This move will also encourage Indian corporates and successful entrepreneurs to actively participate as investors, further strengthening the funding ecosystem. Increased capital flow will accelerate innovation, create new job opportunities, and help high-growth startups across various sectors scale rapidly. By creating an investor-friendly environment, India can build a robust and sustainable startup ecosystem and take a decisive step towards becoming the world's largest startup hub by 2032.

Budget 2026: Finance Minister may change 75-year-old tradition
The budget to be presented today may break a nearly 75-year-old tradition followed since independence. According to government sources, a major change in the format of the budget speech is expected this time. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman may deviate from the traditional presentation style in her budget speech. This time, the Finance Minister may focus more on Part B compared to Part A.

Budget 2026-27 LIVE: Stock market to remain open on Sunday, Budget Day
Usually, the stock market remains closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but due to the budget, the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) will remain open this Sunday. The commodity market, i.e., the Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), will also be open for a special trading session.

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