Union Budget 2025: Nirmala Sitharaman Likely to Present on February 1
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to present the Union Budget 2025 on February 1, Saturday, at 11 am, though an official confirmation from the central government is still awaited. This would mark the eighth consecutive budget by Sitharaman and the second full budget of the Modi 3.0 government. Historically, the Union Budget is presented on the first day of February each year, but adjustments can be made for weekends or public holidays, in line with the Ministry of Finance’s schedule.
On February 1, the stock market will remain open, ensuring investor access and timely responses to the Budget announcements. Regular trading hours are expected to be followed to maintain smooth operations. Presenting the Budget on a Saturday allows the government to garner immediate feedback from stakeholders and provides ample time for the markets to react to the announcements.
The tradition of presenting the Budget on the last working day of February at 5 PM was altered in 1997 when then-Finance Minister P. Chidambaram introduced an 11 AM presentation for better market engagement. Another significant shift occurred in 2017 under Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who advanced the Budget date to February 1 to align with the financial year and avoid election season disruptions. Since then, February 1 at 11 AM has become the standard for the Union Budget presentation.
The Modi government has occasionally opted to present the Budget on Saturdays to facilitate smoother parliamentary discussions. Notable examples include the Union Budget of 2015-16, presented on February 28, 2015, and the Union Budget of 2016-17, presented on February 27, 2016, both under Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. This approach provides Parliament with ample time to deliberate on fiscal matters before the financial year commences on April 1.
Meanwhile, the Economic Survey, a comprehensive report detailing the nation’s economic progress and challenges, is being prepared under the supervision of Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V Anantha Nageswaran. This report, released ahead of the Budget, plays a critical role in setting the tone for fiscal policies.
A key concept often discussed in Budget presentations is the fiscal deficit, which measures the shortfall between a government’s total revenue and expenditure within a financial year, excluding borrowings. This metric serves as a critical indicator of the government’s financial health and its spending priorities.
