Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to present the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, February 1, according to government officials familiar with the matter.

Budget Presentation Timeline

Sources have confirmed to media outlets that the Finance Minister is preparing to table the annual budget on the anticipated date. However, the schedule remains subject to formal government notification, which has not yet been issued.

Current Development Status

The budget presentation date represents a developing situation, with government sources indicating the February 1 timeline while emphasizing that official confirmation through formal notification channels is still pending. The Finance Minister's office is expected to provide additional details regarding the exact timing and procedures for the budget presentation in Parliament.

The Union Budget 2026-27 will outline the government's financial roadmap, including revenue projections, expenditure allocations, and policy initiatives for the upcoming fiscal year. Parliamentary procedures and formal announcements will provide definitive confirmation of the presentation schedule.

Complete Circle Consultants' Managing Partner and CIO Gurmeet Chadha has presented a comprehensive wish list for Budget 2026 as the Prime Minister's Office begins discussions with leading economists. The market expert has outlined three key recommendations aimed at boosting economic momentum through targeted reforms in housing finance, precious metals monetisation, and capital gains taxation.

Three-Point Economic Agenda

Chadha's proposals focus on addressing key areas of the economy through strategic policy interventions. His recommendations were shared publicly as the government prepares for Budget 2026, emphasising the need for reforms that can have deep-rooted impact on economic growth.

Affordable Housing Initiative

The first recommendation centres on expanding affordable housing access through enhanced loan limits and preferential interest rates. Chadha proposes increasing the affordable housing home loan limit to ₹25 lakh with special rates of 5-6%. The initiative specifically targets Non-Resident Indians through campaigns promoting home ownership in India.

The proposal aims to capture demand from blue-collar workers including electricians, chefs, welders, and drivers who aspire to own homes in their native towns or villages. According to Chadha, this approach would generate increased remittances and stimulate housing sector activity.

Precious Metals Monetisation

The second proposal addresses gold and silver monetisation through specialised lending mechanisms. Chadha suggests offering loans against gold and silver at repo plus 200 basis points, translating to rates of 7-8% for three-month tenures. The scheme would include inherited jewellery, bars, and coins up to ₹10 lakh in value.

This recommendation comes amid exceptional precious metals performance in 2025. According to Augmont, gold has risen by 65% while silver has gained 150%, marking the best yearly performance for precious metals in more than four decades.

Capital Gains Tax Reform

Chadha's third recommendation focuses on reducing Long Term Capital Gains tax to 10% from current levels. He highlighted that Securities Transaction Tax collections have reached ₹36,000 crore and are projected to end the year at ₹50,000 crore, providing fiscal space for LTCG reduction.

The current tax structure exempts long-term capital gains on listed equity shares and mutual fund units up to ₹1.25 lakh for securities held for 12 months or more. Short-term capital gains tax on equity shares sold within one year stands at 20%, increased from 15% prior to July 23, 2024.

Chadha argues that the current LTCG structure makes India less attractive globally and negatively impacts investor sentiment. His proposal seeks to address these concerns while maintaining government revenue through the substantial STT collections.

Market Context and Outlook

The recommendations come as the government prepares Budget 2026 with focus on demand revival and private investment thrust. Chadha also expressed hopes for stability in financial and currency markets in 2026, which would enable government reforms to achieve more substantial and lasting economic impact.