Union Budget 2026-27: LIVE
The presentation will also be the second full Budget since NDA returned to power for a third consecutive term in the 2024 general elections
FM Sitharaman (front left) & MoS Pankaj Chaudhary after final touches to Union Budget 2026–27, on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi, Feb 1: The Union Budget 2026–27, to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today, is expected to prioritise defence, infrastructure, capital expenditure, power and affordable housing.
Sitharaman will table the Budget in the Lower House, marking the 15th Union Budget of the Narendra Modi-led government.
The presentation will also be the second full Budget since the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returned to power for a third consecutive term in the 2024 general elections.
The Finance Minister is set to create history by becoming the first woman to present the Union Budget for the ninth consecutive time.
Economists said expectations around the FY27 Budget differ from the previous year, which was largely focused on boosting middle-class consumption through tax relief measures. The upcoming Budget, they noted, is likely to take a more calibrated approach to stimulating consumption while prioritising long-term growth drivers.
Greater emphasis is expected on capital expenditure, particularly in sectors considered strategically important amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Defence preparedness, infrastructure development and energy security are likely to feature prominently in the spending roadmap.
According to an India Strategy report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, capital spending is expected to remain a key priority in the Budget, with allocations also likely to support higher growth in affordable housing.
Stay tuned for live updates, below:
Sitharaman posed with her Budget team in front of her office at Kartavya Bhavan while holding a tablet in a red pouch with the national emblem, along with the Minister of State and all six Secretaries in her ministry.
As per established tradition, the finance minister met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan before heading to Parliament.
Job creation is expected to feature prominently, with possible incentives linked to labour-intensive manufacturing, skilling and apprenticeships.
On the tax front, major changes are considered unlikely. The government has repeatedly signalled a preference for stability and predictability, especially in direct taxes.
Capital expenditure is expected to remain the central pillar of the budget.
The presentation of the Budget for April 2026 to March 2027 fiscal (2026-27) will take on a Sunday, first in independent India's history.