Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026 at 11 am amid high expectations nationwide. The Centre is expected to prioritise sustaining robust economic growth while shielding the economy from global headwinds through policy reforms. Key demands include lower corporate taxes for manufacturers, capital gains tax relief for foreign investors, simplified customs duties, wider deregulation, and steps to boost consumption.
India’s economy has so far shown resilience despite steep Trump-era tariffs. Growth is projected at 7.4% for the year ending March 31, driven by government infrastructure spending and tax cuts on income and consumption that have supported consumer demand.
Earlier this week, Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey of India for 2025-26 in Parliament. Widely seen as the country’s annual economic report card, the survey offers a data-backed assessment of economic performance over the past year and outlines the broad direction for future policy.
Follow The CSR Journal’s live updates of Budget 2026 below.
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Budget 2026 Live Updates: PM Modi arrives at Parliament ahead of Budget presentation
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Why The Finance Minister Meets The President Before Budget Day
Union Budget 2026 Live Updates: On the morning of February 1, the Finance Minister calls on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan to seek formal approval before presenting the Union Budget in Parliament.
As per long-standing tradition, the President offers curd and sugar to the Finance Minister, a gesture considered auspicious and symbolic of wishing success ahead of a major responsibility. The customary meeting is scheduled to take place today as well.
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Along with her Team, calls on President Droupadi Murmu
Credit: ANI
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Along With her Team with the Budget Tablet
Credit: ANI
Budget 2026 Live Updates: What Are The Key Components Of The Budget?
Union Budget 2026 Live Updates: The Union Budget is structured around several core elements that outline the government’s financial position, spending priorities, and economic outlook. The key components include:
- Revenue Budget: Details the government’s revenue receipts, such as taxes and non-tax income, along with revenue expenditure required for day-to-day operations.
- Expenditure Budget: Presents total government spending, including both revenue expenditure and capital expenditure across sectors.
- Fiscal Deficit: Indicates the gap between total expenditure and total receipts, reflecting the government’s borrowing requirements.
- GDP Growth Projections: Provides official estimates and assumptions on economic growth for the coming financial year.
- Policy Announcements: Covers major tax changes, reform measures, and new initiatives proposed by the government.
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Meet The Architects Of India’s 2026–27 Budget
The Union Budget for more than 1.47 billion Indians is steered by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who leads a core team of senior bureaucrats within the Ministry of Finance responsible for policy formulation, revenue planning, expenditure management, and economic strategy.
The key officials involved in preparing the Budget include:
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Anuradha Thakur, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs
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Arvind Shrivastava, Revenue Secretary
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Vumlunmang Vualnam, Expenditure Secretary
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M Nagaraju, Financial Services Secretary
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Arunish Chawla, Secretary, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
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K Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises
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V Anantha Nageswaran, Chief Economic Adviser
Together, this team plays a central role in drafting fiscal priorities, balancing growth with stability, and shaping policy choices that impact every sector of the Indian economy.
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Live Telecast Of Budget 2026 And Where To Watch It
Union Budget 2026 Live Updates: The Union Budget presentation will be telecast live from Sansad Bhawan on Sansad TV.
The Finance Minister’s Budget speech will begin at 11 am. Official Budget documents will also be released on the government’s website and through the Union Budget mobile application.
Budget 2026 Live Updates: Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Kartavya Bhawan ahead of Union Budget
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary arrived at Kartavya Bhawan on Sunday ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27 in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget session of Parliament.
Sitharaman is scheduled to present her record ninth consecutive Budget at 11 am.
She will place before the House a statement detailing the estimated receipts and expenditure of the Government of India for the financial year 2026–27.
The Finance Minister will also table two statements under Section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. These include the Medium-Term Fiscal Policy-cum-Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement and the Macroeconomic Framework Statement.
According to the List of Business, Sitharaman will seek leave to introduce the Finance Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha and formally move the Bill.
The Finance Bill provides legal backing to the government’s financial proposals.