Budget 2026: Is the Indian Stock Market Open Today (February,1 2026)? 

Delhi, February 1, 2026: Indian equity markets are open for trading today, Sunday, February 1, 2026, to coincide with the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. Trading is taking place despite the day being a non-regular working day for the exchanges. 

According to exchange notifications, both equity and commodity markets are operating today to facilitate market participation during the Budget announcement. This marks the first instance since 1999 that the Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday.

Trading Timings for Budget Day 

Exchanges are following the standard trading schedule for the Budget session. The pre-open session is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 9:08 AM, followed by regular market hours from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM. 

Block deal windows are also available during the day, with the first session between 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM and the second between 2:05 PM and 2:20 PM, in line with usual exchange norms. 

Union Budget Presentation Schedule 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Union Budget 2026. This would be done in the Lok Sabha at 11:00 AM at Parliament House, New Delhi. Following the presentation, the Budget documents will be laid before both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. 

The Union Budget has been presented on February 1 for several years. This has allowed markets and stakeholders to assess fiscal priorities and policy direction early in the financial year cycle. 

Market Performance Around Budget Announcements 

Historical data points to a mixed market outcome on Budget Day. According to research by SBI Securities, the Sensex has closed higher on Budget Day eight times out of the last fifteen years, with an average gain of about 1.26 percent. In the remaining situations, the index fell by an average of 0.68 percent. 

Post-Budget performance has generally been more favourable. Over the last 15 years, the Sensex has closed higher in 11 instances following the Budget announcement, with an average gain of about 2.10 percent. The index ended lower four times during the same period, recording an average loss of around 2.05 percent. 

Market participants are expected to track policy announcements, fiscal projections, and sector-specific measures as trading continues through the day. 

Disclaimer: At HDFC SKY, we take utmost care and due diligence in curating and presenting news and market-related content. However, inadvertent errors or omissions may occasionally occur.  

If you have any concerns, questions, or wish to point out any discrepancies in our content, please feel free to write to us at content@hdfcsec.com.  

Please note that the information shared is intended solely for informational purposes and does not make any investment recommendations