Union Budget 2026: Trading Timings (NSE/BSE)
Schedules, Expectations & Rumours
Dated 17.01.2026 : Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the budget for fy 2026-27 on Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM . It’s reported that the preparations by the FM for the Union Budget presentation are in their final stages.
This presentation is particularly notable as it marks a rare Sunday budget session, and it will be the Minister’s ninth consecutive budget.
As budget will be presented on a Sunday morning, both the NSE (National Stock Exchange) and BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) have issued official circulars confirming that the stock markets will be open for a full live trading session on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Trading Schedule for Sunday, Feb 1
The exchanges have confirmed that standard market timings will apply for this special session:
| Session | Time |
| Pre-Open Session | 9:00 AM – 9:08 AM |
| Normal Market Session | 9:15 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Post-Closing Session | 3:40 PM – 4:00 PM |
Key Dates & Schedule
The Budget Session of Parliament is officially set to begin in late January, with the following timeline confirmed:
- January 28, 2026: Parliament’s Budget Session commences.
- January 29, 2026: Expected presentation of the Economic Survey 2025–26, which provides a report card on the economy.
- February 1, 2026: The Union Budget is presented in the Lok Sabha.
- February 13, 2026: The first phase of the session concludes.
- March 9, 2026: The second phase begins (after a recess for committee reviews).
The “New Income Tax Act, 2025”
A major highlight of this budget will be the transition to the New Income Tax Act, 2025, which is slated to take effect from April 1, 2026. This act aims to replace the legacy 1961 Act with a more concise and simplified framework.
- Expectation: The Finance Minister is expected to provide clear rollout guidelines and transition rules for taxpayers.
- Focus: Furthering the “New Tax Regime” as the default, potentially making it even more attractive to phase out the old system
Top Expectations & Rumors
While the official document is confidential, industry “wishlists” and expert projections suggest the following focus areas:
1. Personal Finance & Income Tax
- Standard Deduction: There is a strong push to increase the standard deduction from ₹75,000 to ₹1,00,000 to help the middle class cope with inflation.
- Slab Rationalization: While major changes are unlikely after last year’s relief, experts expect a possible widening of the 5% and 10% tax brackets.
- TDS Simplification: A “Unified TDS Framework” might be introduced to reduce the dozens of current withholding tax rates to just 2 or 3 standard rates
2. Key Sector Focus
| Sector | Likely Focus Areas |
| Infrastructure | Continued high capital expenditure (CapEx) for roads, ports, and “Viksit Bharat 2047” goals. |
| Railways | Expansion of the Kavach (anti-collision) system and more Vande Bharat sleeper trains. |
| Defence | Focus on “Atmanirbhar Bharat” with higher allocations for domestic manufacturing and R&D. |
| Agriculture | Shifts toward “Climate-Smart” farming, digital agri-stacks, and increased rural credit. |
| Green Energy | Incentives for battery storage, green hydrogen, and EV charging infrastructure. |
3. Indirect Taxes (GST)
GST 2.0: Discussions around rationalising the GST rate structure (moving from 4 slabs to 3) and reducing tax litigation are expected to be addressed.
Pre-Budget Traditions
- Halwa Ceremony: This traditional event is expected to take place next week. It marks the start of the “lock-in” period for finance ministry officials who remain in total isolation until the budget is presented to prevent leaks.
- Paperless Format: Following the trend since 2021, the budget will be entirely digital, accessible via the Union Budget Mobile App.
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