Budget 2026 Expectations Live: Doctors to hoteliers, bankers to teachers, what every sector is demanding from budget day

2026 Budget Expectations Live Updates: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, February 1, with India Inc and the wider economy keeping a close eye on measures that could buffer India against US tariffs and other global uncertainties. As the Narendra Modi-led government charts the path towards its ambitious Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the forthcoming Budget is widely seen as a potential catalyst for self-reliance and growth across key sectors.

While the nation focuses on reforms and allocations, a lesser-known but equally fascinating story unfolds behind the scenes at the finance ministry. Though the ministry itself has relocated to the modern Kartavya Bhawan in September 2025, the printing of the highly confidential Budget documents continues at the historic North Block on Raisina Hill, the old nerve centre of India’s financial planning.

Catch all developments related to Union Budget 2026 here

Unlike North Block, the new Kartavya Bhawan complex does not yet house a printing press, making the North Block the only viable location for this delicate task. Sources cited by PTI revealed that all printing will take place at a dedicated government press in North Block, maintaining the tradition and ensuring top-level security.

The history of Budget printing is a story in itself. Originally conducted at Rashtrapati Bhavan, it moved to a press on Minto Road in 1950 after a leak, and later to North Block in 1980. The exercise is elaborate: printing several hundred copies of voluminous Budget documents requires utmost secrecy, with staff often quarantined in the basement of North Block for up to two weeks to prevent any information leaks.

As printing begins, access to key officials involved in the process is strictly restricted, in keeping with the customary confidentiality protocol. The final preparatory step, the much-awaited ‘halwa ceremony’, is expected next week, signalling that the Budget 2026-27 is ready to be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1.

From meticulous planning to centuries-old rituals, the preparation of India’s Union Budget remains as secretive and ceremonial as it is critical, offering a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes efforts that shape the country’s economic roadmap.