Union Budget 2026: Nirmala Sitharaman’s Ninth Consecutive Budget and the Road to Viksit Bharat
The Nation is at its feet as February 1, 2026, approaches; the Indian political and economic landscape is abuzz with anticipation. This year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to achieve a feat unparalleled in the history of independent India. By tabling the Union Budget of 2026, she will be presenting Nirmala Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget, a record that cements her long legacy in Indian politics as one of the most influential economic architects of the modern era.
While former Prime Minister Morarji Desai holds the all-time record for the most budgets presented, those were delivered across non-consecutive tenures. Sitharaman stands alone in her marathon streak ever since her appointment as India’s first full-time woman Finance Minister in 2019. She has navigated the country through a global pandemic, geopolitical warfare and historical reforms.
The Road to a Historic Milestone
When we look at Nirmala Sitharaman's budget history, we see a departure from colonial traditions. In 2019, she famously swapped the leather briefcase for the traditional Bahi Khata. By 2021, she led the transition to a fully digital, paperless budget, accepting modern reforms.
This ninth presentation is a sign of immense political stability that has emerged under Niramal Sitharaman’s tenure as Finance Minister.
The budget is expected to include several reforms boosting India's economic growth amid uncertain geopolitical conditions.
This geopolitical volatility is fueled by the Trump administration's imposition of 50% tariffs on India last year. The US President also threatened to escalate his trade war with European allies over their opposition to a US takeover of Greenland; however, he later reversed his stance.
The upcoming budget will bring Sitharaman closer to matching the record of 10 budgets set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, though they were delivered non-consecutively.
Budget 2025 vs Budget 2026: What’s Changing?
The primary distinction between Budget 2025 and Budget 2026 is the shift from stabilisation efforts to a more aggressive focus on growth strategies, which is in response to the current unstable global political climate. In Budget 2025, the emphasis was on providing relief to the middle class, notably increasing the effective tax-free income limit under the New Tax Regime to ₹12.75 lakh.
As per the latest Nirmala Sitharaman budget news, the 2026 roadmap is expected to prioritise energy transition, with a major push towards Nuclear energy to reach 100 GW by 2047.
Artificial Intelligence is also expected to be a goal, with an increase in AI centres providing excellence in education.
While 2025 saw a major slab overhaul, in the Union Budget 2026, Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to focus on simplifying compliance and raising the standard deduction to ₹1 lakh to curb inflation.
Breaking Records and Stereotypes
Beyond just numbers, Nirmala Sitharaman's record budget streak represents a cultural shift. She holds the record for the longest budget speech, lasting 2 hours and 42 minutes in 2020. She has used her platform to promote Indian handlooms, often choosing sarees that represent the artistic heritage of different states, from Odisha’s Bomkai to Telangana’s Pochampally.
For the first time in recent history, the budget will be presented on a Sunday. This ensures that the markets have ample time to digest the massive reforms expected in this historic session.
Key Expectations: Union Budget 2026 Live Updates
As the nation awaits the official presentation, the industry wishlist has already been clear. Nirmala Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget is expected to address the following:
- Rural Prosperity: It is expected that the credit limit for Kisan Credit Cards will increase; the limit under the Modified Interest Subvention Scheme is expected to reach ₹5 lakh (up from the previous limit of ₹3 lakh). This will ensure that farmers, fishermen, and dairy owners have access to high-yield technology and climate-resilient farming practices. India remains a major importer of pulses, and the bridge to this gap. Nirmala Sitharaman's budget is expected to double down on the 6-year "Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses.”
- Manufacturing: While Production Incentives have been successful, the NMM (National Manufacturing Mission) aims to solve structural bottlenecks. Nirmala Sitharaman's budget latest news suggests a focus on creating "plug-and-play" infrastructure across five industrial zones. This will significantly reduce the "cost of doing business" by providing ready-to-use land and logistics.
- Digital Assets: Currently, a 1% Tax deduction at source applies to every transaction, which has led to many users being unhappy with capital flight to offshore exchanges.
Experts expect the Finance minister to consider lowering this to 0.01% or 0.1%, maintaining the "audit trail" while restoring liquidity to domestic exchanges. - Accessibility of EVs: The rising air pollution. Budget 2026 is a significant opportunity to strengthen shared and low-speed electric mobility as a core pillar of clean transport. While EV policy support has largely favoured personal vehicle ownership, low-speed electric vehicles remain outside key incentive frameworks despite their proven impact.
- Strengthening of labour laws: With India’s new labour codes now a reality, the real test in the coming Budget will be whether policy moves from legislation to execution. Employers need clarity, digital readiness and compliance continuity, not just new rules. A substantial Budget will fund enforcement infrastructure, digitisation and transition support so businesses can implement the codes without operational shocks.
- Reduction of gold imports: India’s gems and jewellery sector is navigating the dual pressure of elevated gold and silver prices and slowing volume growth, making the Union Budget a timely opportunity to restore momentum through pragmatic reforms
Nirmala Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget is more than just an accounting exercise; it is a statement of India’s economic resilience. As she prepares to walk into Parliament with her tablet on February 1, the nation watches to see how this record-breaking tenure will shape the "Amrit Kaal" of the Indian economy.
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