Summary of this article
Budget Session 2026 scheduled from January 28 to April 2
Session split into phases, ending February 13, resuming March 9
Union Budget expected on February 1, followed by financial legislation
The Budget Session of parliament for 2026 is scheduled to be conducted in two phases between January 28 and April 2, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday. The dates have been cleared by Droupadi Murmu following a recommendation from the Government of India.
According to the announcement, the first phase of the Budget Session will take place between January 28 and February 13, and the second phase will start on March 9 and conclude on April 2. Both houses of the Parliament of India, the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, will be summoned for the session.
Structure of the Session and Important Dates
The Budget Session is the first session of Parliament in a calendar year, and it traditionally starts with the address by the President to a joint sitting of the two Houses. This address sets out the general policy priorities and legislative agenda of the government for the new year. Following the address, the focus shifts to financial business, including the presentation and discussion of the Union Budget.
The Union Budget 2026 is likely to be presented on February 1, which falls on a Sunday this year. In previous years, when the Budget was presented on a weekend or holiday, Parliament was assembled specifically for the presentation, followed by detailed discussions on subsequent working days. The Budget presentation will include the Annual Financial Statement, the Finance Bill, and the Appropriation Bill, which together lay out the government's revenue, expenditure, taxation proposals and fiscal strategy for the financial year starting April 1, 2026.
Focus of the Two Phases
The first phase of the Budget Session is normally focused on the presentation of the Budget, general discussion on the broad themes of the Budget and the introduction of important financial bills. This is also the stage when the initial debates on demands for grants from different ministries and departments take place.
The second phase, which starts on March 9, is generally reserved for detailed scrutiny and voting on demands for grants, consideration and passing of the Finance Bill and the Appropriation Bill, and discussion of other legislative business. These steps are required to obtain the approval of the parliament for the spending and taxation proposals of the government before the beginning of the new financial year.
Place of Budget Session in Parliamentary Calendar
The Budget Session is one of three regular sessions of the Indian Parliament each year. It is followed by the Monsoon Session, which is generally held during July and August, and the Winter Session, which is generally held in November and December.
Among these three sessions, the Budget Session is the longest and most important, in terms of financial business, since the government's fiscal framework and expenditure priorities are determined during this session.
