Mumbai: In a rare departure from the traditional trading calendar, Dalal Street will witness a working Sunday. Leading stock exchanges BSE and NSE announced on January 16, 2026, that they will conduct a full-day live trading session on Sunday, February 1, to allow investors to react in real-time to the Union Budget 2026–27. This marks the first time since 2000 that a Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday, making it a landmark event for the Indian financial markets.
Special Trading Schedule for February 1
According to the circulars, the trading hours for the special session will mirror a standard market day.
- Pre-Open Market: 09:00 AM to 09:08 AM
- Normal Market: 09:15 AM to 03:30 PM
- Closing Session: 03:40 PM to 04:00 PM
The exchanges have clarified that while Equities, F&O, and Commodity Derivatives will be open, the T+0 Settlement Session and the Auction Session for settlement defaults will remain suspended on this day due to it being a settlement holiday.
A Historic Sunday Presentation
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to begin her Budget speech at 11:00 AM in the Lok Sabha. This will be her ninth consecutive Budget presentation, moving her closer to the all-time record of 10 Budgets held by Morarji Desai.
Analysts suggest the decision to keep the markets open is strategic, as it prevents a massive “gap opening” on Monday morning and allows the high-frequency reactions to the Finance Minister’s tax and fiscal proposals to be absorbed gradually throughout the Sunday session.
Key Highlights Box:
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026.
- Timings: 09:15 AM to 03:30 PM (Regular hours).
- Budget Time: 11:00 AM.
- Status: Settlement Holiday (Trades will be settled on subsequent working days).
FAQ Section:
A1: No. Budget 2025 and Budget 2015 were presented on Saturdays. However, a Sunday presentation is the first of its kind since February 2000.
A2: Generally, no. Banks follow the RBI holiday calendar and standard Sunday closures. Only the stock exchanges and Parliament will have an exceptional working day.
Read Also:
AUTHORSHIP & TRANSPARENCY
- Sign-off: Reported by KittoNews Business Desk | Edited by Senior Editor Gowhar Nabi.
- Source Transparency: Verified via NSE Circular and BSE Notice issued on Jan 16, 2026.
- Disclaimer: Trading on Budget day can be highly volatile. Investors are advised to consult with certified financial advisors before making large-volume trades.
- Community Question: Do you think Sunday trading is a good move, or should investors have been given a day to digest the news before the markets opened?
- Accountability Footer: Found an error or have a news tip? Email kittonews@gmail.com.
