Nirmala Sitharaman Makes History: First FM to Arrive at Kartavya Bhavan for Budget 2026

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth Union Budget, the 88th for India since independence, today at 11 am in Lok Sabha.
• For the first time, Sitharaman arrived at Kartavya Bhavan 1 for the Budget presentation, a significant shift from the traditional North Block venue.
• This change reflects the Central Vista Redevelopment Project and a move towards modern government complexes, away from colonial-era structures.
• Despite the new arrival venue, traditions like the Halwa Ceremony were still held at North Block, and the Budget remains paperless, accessible via the Union Budget Mobile App.
• Sitharaman's 2026 Budget presentation is historic as it's the first time a Union Budget is presented on a Sunday, maintaining the February 1 date.

Why It Matters: Nirmala Sitharaman's 2026 Budget presentation marks several historic firsts, including a new venue and Sunday presentation.