Union Budget 2026 LIVE: Rare earth corridors, Rs 10,000 crore SME fund, other key announcements

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget in Parliament today, February 1, 2026. This is her ninth Budget and the first time ever that India’s Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday.

The Budget speech is expected to begin around 11 am.

The Budget is likely to focus on keeping India’s growth strong, managing government finances carefully, and pushing ahead with key reforms. Measures to support jobs, control inflation, boost infrastructure spending, and give relief to the middle class and businesses are keenly watched.

The government may also announce steps to protect the Indian economy from global challenges, including trade tensions and possible U.S. tariffs.

Ahead of the Budget, the Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled in Parliament by the Finance Minister on Thursday. The Survey was prepared by Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran. It said India’s economy is estimated to grow at 7.4% in the current financial year (2025–26).

For the October–December 2025 quarter, growth is estimated at 7%. For the next year, 2026–27, the Survey expects growth to be in the range of 6.8% to 7.2%.