Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive Union Budget on February 1. From historic records and digital shifts to little-known traditions, here are 10 fascinating facts you should know ahead of Budget 2026.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget for 2026-27 on February 1, marking yet another significant moment in India’s parliamentary history. This will be Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive Union Budget, a feat unmatched by any finance minister in a single uninterrupted tenure.
Ahead of the Budget, the Economic Survey of India was also tabled in Parliament, outlining the state of the economy and setting the context for upcoming fiscal decisions.
Here are 10 important facts about the Union Budget that explain its history, traditions, and milestones.
The preparation of the Union Budget traditionally begins with the Halwa Ceremony, where a sweet dish is served to finance ministry officials involved in drafting the Budget. This ceremony marks the start of the lock-in period, during which officials remain isolated to maintain secrecy until Budget Day.
For four decades (1980–2020), Budget documents were printed at a press located in the North Block basement. Since 2021, the Budget has gone largely digital, significantly reducing paperwork and shortening the lock-in period from nearly two weeks to about five days.
All official Budget documents including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants, and Finance Bill are now available through the Union Budget Mobile App, enabling easy public and parliamentary access.
With nine consecutive Budgets, Sitharaman edges closer to the overall record of 10 Budgets presented by Morarji Desai across multiple tenures. She already holds the record for the most Budgets delivered continuously under one prime minister.
Independent India’s first Union Budget was presented on November 26, 1947, by the country’s first finance minister, R K Shanmukham Chetty.
Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai holds the all-time record, having presented 10 Union Budgets between 1959 and 1969 under different prime ministers.
Former finance minister P Chidambaram delivered the Budget nine times, while Pranab Mukherjee presented eight during his tenure.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh presented five consecutive Budgets between 1991 and 1995.
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Sitharaman also holds the record for the longest Budget speech two hours and 40 minutes in 2020. The shortest speech was delivered by Hirubhai Mulljibhai Patel in 1977, comprising just 800 words.
Until 1999, the Budget was presented at 5 pm to align with British parliamentary timings. This practice ended when Yashwant Sinha shifted the presentation to 11 am.
Since 2017, the Budget has been presented on February 1 to ensure parliamentary approval before March-end, allowing full implementation from April 1, the start of the financial year.
