This Year, the Union Budget is Scheduled for Saturday; Stock Markets Will Operate
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New Delhi, Jan 10 (NationPress) As preparations accelerate for the Union Budget 2025-26, which is traditionally released on February 1, the spotlight now shines on the government's impending confirmation about delivering the budget this year on a weekend.
Historically, there have been instances when the Union Budget was unveiled on a Saturday, allowing the domestic stock markets to remain operational.
For example, on February 1, 2020, and February 28, 2015, the markets were active on Saturday due to the Union Budget presentation.
In a notice issued on December 23, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced a special trading session for Saturday, February 1, 2025, in light of the budget presentation.
“In light of the Union Budget presentation, the Exchange will conduct a live trading session on February 01, 2025, following standard market hours,” stated the notice.
The pre-opening phase will run from 9 a.m. to 9.08 a.m. Subsequently, the normal trading session will be held from 9.15 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
On February 1, 2024, the Nifty index closed down 0.13 percent during the interim budget presentation.
On the occasion of the comprehensive budget presented on July 23, 2024, following the Lok Sabha elections, the Nifty ended with a decline of 0.12 percent.
Meanwhile, the government is expected to maintain its emphasis on enhancing quality expenditure, fortifying the social safety net, and aiming to reduce the fiscal deficit to 4.5 percent of GDP for the financial year 2025-2026, as per a statement from the Finance Ministry.
Finance Minister Sitharaman is anticipated to uphold the government’s focus on increasing investments in substantial infrastructure projects and social welfare initiatives for the underprivileged while managing the fiscal deficit as she presents the Union Budget for 2025-26 in Parliament on February 1.
