Indian Stock Exchanges Open for Weekend Trading During Union Budget 2026
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India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay stock Exchange (BSE) will conduct a full trading session on Sunday, February 1, 2026, to facilitate immediate investor response to the Union Budget 2026 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Union Budget 2026 Presentation
The Union Budget is an annual financial statement outlining the government’s revenue and expenditure for the upcoming fiscal year. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Budget 2026 on February 1, 2026. The Press Facts Bureau (PIB) will likely release key details and official statements following the presentation.
This is not the first time Indian stock exchanges have opened on a weekend for budget day trading. The practice was initiated in 2021 to allow investors to react to budget announcements in real-time.
Trading Session Details
Both the NSE and BSE will hold a full-fledged live trading session on february 1,2026. This means all segments, including equity, derivatives, and debt, will be operational. The session timings will be similar to regular trading hours, as announced by each exchange.
According to a BSE circular issued on January 26, 2024, regarding similar arrangements for previous budgets, the exchanges will conduct a special pre-open session for order entry and confirmation.
Historical Context of Weekend Trading
The decision to open stock exchanges on a Sunday during the Union Budget presentation was first implemented in 2021.Prior to this,markets typically remained closed on budget day,with trading resuming the following day. The change aimed to provide investors with an immediate prospect to react to budget-related announcements and reduce market volatility.
This practice has been repeated in subsequent years, including for Budget 2022 and Budget 2023, demonstrating its continued relevance and acceptance within the Indian financial market.
- National Stock Exchange (NSE): https://www.nseindia.com/
- Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE): https://www.bseindia.com/
- Ministry of Finance: https://www.finmin.gov.in/
- Press Information Bureau (PIB): https://www.pib.gov.in/