Indian stock markets will remain open on Sunday, February 1, for live trading during the presentation of the Union Budget. NSE and BSE will conduct a special trading session despite the weekend holiday, allowing investors to react in real time to budget announcements.
Union Budget 2026 to Keep Markets Open on February 1
New Delhi: In view of the Union Budget 2026, Indian stock markets will remain open on Sunday, February 1. Markets are typically closed on Sundays, but special live trading sessions will be held on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and commodity markets to allow investors and traders to react in real time to the budget presentation.
According to an official circular issued by the NSE and BSE on January 16, 2026, stock market trading will be as usual on February 1. The pre-open session will begin at 9:00 am and continue until 9:08 am, while the general market will be open from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm. Trade modifications will then be available until 4:15 pm.
In addition to the main trading, other sessions will also be held at the scheduled times. Block Deal Session 1 will be held from 8:45 am to 9:00 am. A special pre-open session for IPOs and relisted securities will be held from 9:00 am to 9:45 am. Call auction sessions for illiquid securities will be held from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Block Deal Session 2 will be held from 2:05 pm to 2:20 pm, and the post-closing session will be from 3:40 pm to 4:00 pm.
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It is worth noting that February 1, 2026, is likely to be a settlement holiday. Consequently, the T+0 session will not be held. Investors are advised to plan their trades accordingly.
Commodity markets will also be open on Budget Day. According to a circular issued by MCX, commodity trading will be permitted on Sundays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm under the special Budget Day arrangement. During this period, gold, silver, crude oil, and agricultural commodities will be traded as usual.
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Budget announcements related to import duty, tax policy, agriculture, and energy directly impact commodity prices. Consequently, the market may experience sharp fluctuations during the budget. Experts advise traders to take positions carefully, keeping risk management and margin requirements in mind.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026, which will be her ninth consecutive budget. This budget sets the direction for the country's economic priorities, tax policy, government spending, and welfare schemes. Consequently, the stock and commodity markets are often highly volatile on Budget Day, and keeping this in mind, the decision has been made to keep the markets open despite it being a Sunday.
