Stock Market to Remain Open on Sunday, Feb 1 for Union Budget 2026

In an unusual arrangement, India’s stock markets will operate on Sunday, February 1, 2026, coinciding with the presentation of the Union Budget 2026. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has announced a special trading session to allow real-time market reactions to the Finance Minister’s proposals on taxes, spending, and fiscal policies.

According to the official NSE circular, trading will follow near-normal hours. The pre-open session is set from 9:00 a.m. to 9:08 a.m. (with random closure in the last minute), followed by the regular market session from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additional segments include Block Deal sessions, a special pre-open for IPOs and relisted securities, call auction for illiquid stocks, and a post-closing session until 4:00 p.m.

Notably, the T+0 (same-day) settlement facility will not be available on this day due to a settlement holiday. All trades executed during the special session will follow the standard settlement cycle.

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The decision to keep markets open on Budget Day helps prevent delayed volatility and allows prices to adjust immediately to announcements. Historically, Budget presentations influence sectors through changes in taxation, subsidies, infrastructure spending, and deficit targets, often triggering sharp intraday movements in indices like the Nifty.

Traders should exercise caution due to expected high volatility, with potential for rapid swings based on whether proposals meet, exceed, or fall short of expectations. Long-term investors are advised to focus on how policy changes impact company fundamentals rather than reacting to short-term noise.

This special session underscores the importance of the Union Budget as a key driver of market sentiment and economic direction for the year ahead.

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