Stock markets to open on Sunday, February 1, for Union Budget presentation

Despite being Sunday on February 1, both the stock exchanges will be open1 for live trading during the presentation of the Union Budget 2026–27. In circulars to investors, the NSE and the BSE said they will conduct a live trading session on February 1 as per standard market timings, declaring it a special trading day.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present her ninth Union Budget in Parliament at 11 AM on Sunday, as February 1 falls on a weekend, when stock markets are usually closed. As per the exchanges, the pre-open session will begin at 9 AM, followed by normal trading from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.

National Stock Exchange Managing Director & CEO Ashish Kumar Chauhan said, “We have to work as per the requirement of the society. On a Sunday when the budget is there, where everyone wants to participate in the market, we have to keep it open.”

Market participants say keeping markets open on Budget day allows real-time price discovery and avoids sharp volatility when trading resumes after a holiday. The Union Budget is closely tracked by investors, as announcements related to taxation, fiscal deficit, capital expenditure and sector-specific incentives often trigger sharp movements in equities.

The Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday after a gap of 27 years. Renowned market Sharad Kohli says, “On 28th February 1999, I remember the budget was presented on Sunday by the then finance minister Yashwant Sinha. It is now after 27 years that the budget on 1st February will be presented on a Sunday. So the stock markets are going to be open on 1st of February, that is Sunday, which is a usual holiday for stock markets. All the traders, investors and analysts can consider it a working day.”

Historically, the Union Budget was presented on the last working day of February. However, in 2017, the government advanced the presentation to February 1 to ensure proposals are implemented by the start of the new financial year in April. Last year as well, when February 1 fell on a Saturday, markets were kept open. With markets remaining open on Sunday, investors will be able to react instantly to budget announcements as the Union Budget 2026–27 unfolds.