What Is Union Budget? A Beginner's Guide
By: NDTVNewsDesk
Image: Pexels
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026 on February 01.
Image: Pexels
The Union Budget is presented annually on February 1 and is governed by Article 112 of the Indian Constitution.
Image: Pexels
Until 1998, the Budget was presented at 5 pm on the last working day in February.
Image: Pexels
In 1999, Yashwant Sinha, under the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, decided to change the presentation time to 11 am.
Image: Pexels
The 2017-18 Budget marked a significant change by shifting the presentation date to February 1.
Image: Pexels
It also ended the decades-long tradition of presenting a separate Railway Budget.
Image: Pexels
The Budget is divided into two parts - the revenue budget (day-to-day expenses) and the capital budget (long-term investments).
Image: Pexels
The preparation involves extensive consultations and meetings with various government departments, experts, and other stakeholders.
Image: Pexels
ndtv.com