New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026–27 on February 1, 2026, marking her ninth consecutive Budget and the third full Budget of the Narendra Modi–led NDA 3.0 government. The Budget will be tabled on a Sunday, a relatively rare occurrence in recent years, adding to the significance of this much-anticipated economic announcement.

Budget Session 2026 to Run from January 28 to April 2

The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on January 28 and conclude on April 2, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has announced. Sharing the update on X, Rijiju said that President Droupadi Murmu has approved the summoning of both Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026, following a recommendation from the Union government.

With this Budget, Nirmala Sitharaman will set a new record by surpassing several former finance ministers including Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P. Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, and Morarji Desai in the number of Union Budgets presented. The decisions and policy announcements made during this session are expected to play a crucial role in shaping India’s economic direction for the next financial year.

Economic Survey 2026–27 to Be Presented on January 29

The Economic Survey for 2026–27 will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament on January 29, a day ahead of the Union Budget. The Survey will be presented by Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran and is expected to outline the state of the economy, key challenges, and growth priorities that will set the context for the Budget announcements.

Union Budget 2026 Presentation Date and Time

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026–27 in Parliament on February 1, 2026, beginning at 11:00 AM. The Budget speech is one of the most closely watched events of the year, as it lays out the government’s economic priorities and policy direction for the coming financial year.

How to Watch the Union Budget 2026 Live

Business enthusiasts and the general public can watch the Union Budget 2026 live on February 1 at 11:00 AM on the official Parliament channel, Sansad TV.

The live telecast will also be available across major news channels and on social media platforms such as YouTube and X (formerly Twitter).

Additionally, viewers can stream the Budget live on the official website: www.indiabudget.gov.in

What Is the Union Budget?

The Union Budget is an annual statement presented by the central government that outlines its proposed revenues and expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year, which runs from April 1 to March 31. Prepared and presented by the Finance Minister of India, currently Nirmala Sitharaman, the Budget is a comprehensive document detailing the government’s policies, priorities, and financial plans.

As per Article 112 of the Constitution, the President of India is required to lay the Annual Financial Statement (the Budget) before Parliament. Closely watched by businesses, investors, and the general public, the Budget offers important insights into the government’s focus areas and can have a major impact on the country’s economy.

Micron Technology’s $2.75-billion semiconductor facility in Sanand, Gujarat, is expected to begin commercial production by the end of February, IT and electronics minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Speaking to ET on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vaishnaw said that pilot production is already underway at four semiconductor plants, with one now ready to shift to full commercial operations in the third week of February. “I can share some good news. The four plants that started pilot production in recent months…one of which is going to start commercial production in the third week of February, I just met its CEO and he’s very happy with the work that has happened in India. This is in Sanand, the Micron plant,” he said. Vaishnaw further acknowledged the complexity of semiconductor manufacturing, calling it among the hardest industrial challenges.

India making ‘most complex’ chips

He added that the country’s approach has been to focus on problem-solving, “we are very cognisant of the difficulty involved in semiconductor manufacturing. That’s why we are keeping our heads down and solving every problem as it comes. The industry is very satisfied with our problem-solving approach,” Vaishnaw said. According to the minister, global semiconductor firms are increasingly viewing India as a destination not only for design but also for advanced manufacturing. He said that industry leaders at a Davos roundtable highlighted that the “most complex chips” are now being developed in India, including two-nanometre nodes, and as the manufacturing capability is increasing, companies may also manufacture those chips in the country. “Yesterday, at a roundtable, practically every semiconductor industry leader they are now designing end-to-end products in India, and the most complex chips, including two-nanometre nodes, are being designed in India end to end. Now that manufacturing capability is coming up, they want to manufacture those chips in India,” Vaishnaw said. He also pointed to a defined roadmap for technology progression in Indian chipmaking. “We have set a very clear path, from 28-nanometer to 7-nanometer, to 3-nanometer, to 2-nanometer node. That path is clearly laid out. After six decades of persistence, this is finally giving results,” he said.

‘Rare earth availability very large’

Vaishnaw linked India’s semiconductor ambitions to the strength of its strategic partnerships, especially when it comes to securing critical minerals such as rare earths. He said the key challenge is not availability but processing and extraction capabilities. “This is a very important topic. Rare earth availability is very large, there is no shortage. What is important is to be able to process them, extracting the elements from the minerals available in nature. That’s where we need collaboration with multiple countries, so that we are able to create that ecosystem which can process the minerals,” he said, adding that many sectors depend on rare earths. While answering whether India can secure the rare earths required for semiconductor manufacturing and the wider electronics ecosystem, Vaishnaw described mineral supply as inherently multilateral, requiring multiple countries to play complementary roles. “The mineral value chain will always remain a multilateral value chain. It will have multiple players as part of the value chain. Some things will come from one country, others from another country. What is important is to build alliances,” he told ET. He noted that India has built semiconductor development partnerships with several regions and countries. “That’s why we have alliances with the US, with Germany, with Japan. We now have alliances with South Korea and with the entire EU for semiconductor development,” Vaishnaw said.

India amid global headwinds

In the midst of geopolitical uncertainty, Vaishnaw said India’s focus is on building dependable partnerships rooted in trust. “What’s important is to create relationships based on trust. That’s what Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has done over the last 11 years. The relationships that we have developed are relationships of trust, where we co-create, co-develop, and add value to each other. These are the relationships that will sustain in this turbulence,” he said. Asked about US President Donald Trump’s speech at the WEF, Vaishnaw said the global environment is entering a turbulent phase, making economic and technological resilience crucial. “The entire world is bracing for a very turbulent period, and we are a very, very responsible country. It’s very important to have resilience built into our economy, into our society, into our country,” he said, listing resilience across technology, defence, research and development, and trade as key focus areas. Vaishnaw also shared what he believes are the key discussions shaping this year’s Davos agenda. “There are two major themes out here. One is, as AI models become commoditised, which they have, how the value will come out of AI? The second is, in this entire geopolitical and geo-economic turbulence, how will countries respond?” he said. In his message to the business community attending Davos, Vaishnaw said investors are increasingly viewing India as a stable and trusted partner in global supply chains. “The entire world is looking at India as a trusted value chain partner, as a country that is growing consistently, as a country that is having inclusive growth, as a democracy that is led by a leadership that is focused on making sure every section of society grows with the growth of the country,” he said. He also added that India’s pace of technology adoption and adaptability are among the factors driving investor confidence.

Last Updated:January 23, 2026, 10:52 IST

Silver ETFs surged nearly 10 percent and Gold ETFs jumped 3.35 percent on Friday amid record prices, following a sharp sell-off on January 22.

Global Bullion Rally Sparks Sharp Gains in Indian Gold, Silver ETFs

Silver and Gold ETFs: Silver ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund) on Friday jumped almost 10 per cent amid the record high prices of physical silver. Gold ETFs also saw a sharp jump of 3.35 per cent, reflecting a strong inflow of money.

Tata Silver ETF surged 10 per cent on January 23, trading at Rs 30.50 per unit. ICICI Prudential Silver ETF also jumped 8.11 per cent to Rs 311.64 per unit. UTI Silver ETF, Aditya Brila Sun Life Silver ETF, Nippon India Silver ETF, Zerodha Silver ETF also followed the same trajectory.

Likewise, Edelweiss Gold ETF surged 3.43 per cent to trade at Rs 155.45 per unit. Meanwhile, other ETFs such as Angel One, ICICI Prudential Gold, UTI (Gold Beta), Mirae Asset Gold also rose up to 3 per cent.

Meanwhile, at the international commodity futures market, gold is closer to the record $5,000 per ounce-mark at COMEX, while Silver is eyeing $100 per ounce-mark soon, standing at $98 per ounce.

Gold, Silver ETFs Slump On Thursday

Gold and silver exchange-traded funds (ETFs) witnessed a sharp sell-off on January 22, with some silver ETFs plunging as much as 21% in the early trade, as precious metal prices eased amid easing geopolitical and tariff-related tensions triggered by comments from US President Donald Trump.

The steep correction has come after a recent record rally in bullion prices. The bullion rates recently skyrocketed due to heightened geopolitical risks after Trump had threatened tariffs and even hinted at the use of military force over Greenland, comments that had fuelled strong safe-haven demand for gold and silver.

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