Union Budget 2026: India will continue to move towards Viksit Bharat, says Nirmala Sitharaman as she presents her 9th Budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (February 1, 2026) presented her record ninth consecutive Union Budget for April 2026 to March 2027 in the Lok Sabha.

Ms. Sitharaman, wearing a magenta-coloured Kattam Kanjeevaram (Kancheepuram) silk saree from Tamil Nadu, presented a Budget — prepared in the Kartavya Bhavan — on a Sunday, a first in independent India’s history.

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Speaking in the House, Ms. Sitharaman said, “Since we assumed office 12 years ago. India’s economic trajectory has been marked by stability. This government, led by PM Modi, has chosen action over ambivalence, reform over rhetoric. We have pursued far-reaching structural reforms, fiscal prudence and monetary stability, while maintaining a strong thrust on public investment.”

India will continue to confident steps towards Viksit Bharat by balancing ambition with inclusion, she said.

Highlighting the government’s structural reforms, fiscal prudence, and monetary stability, the Finance Minister said these measures have delivered a high growth rate of around 7% for India.

The government has chosen the path of reforms over rhetoric, she said in the Lok Sabha.

The Finance Minister also laid the 16th Finance Commission report for tax revenue devolution between the Centre and states for 2026-2031.