The PRESS Pad

11.55% Increase Over FY 2025–26 as 53 Ministries and 5 UTs Report Gender Budget Allocations The Union Budget 2026–27 , presented in Parliament on 1st February 2026  by Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman , witnessed a significant rise in the Gender Budget (GB)  allocation. An allocation of ₹5.01 lakh crore  has been reported for the welfare of women and girls in the Gender Budget Statement (GBS) of FY 2026–27. This marks an 11.55% increase

45-Day Care Leave for Elderly Parents Raised in Rajya Sabha During Zero Hour India’s rapidly ageing population entered the centre of parliamentary debate on Friday, February 6, 2026 , when Sumitra Balmik  raised a demand in the Rajya Sabha  for mandatory 45-day care leave for elderly parents  in both government and private sectors . Raising the issue during Zero Hour , Ms. Balmik framed the demand not as a welfare concession, but as a structural necessity for a country underg

The Union Budget 2026–27 , tabled in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman , has proposed the establishment of three new dedicated Chemical Parks  through a challenge-route, cluster-based plug-and-play model , marking a major policy push for India’s chemical and petrochemical industry. The initiative is supported by a ₹600 crore central allocation  for FY 2026–27 and is aimed at boosting domestic production, reducing import dependence, and enhancing global comp

In a landmark policy announcement with deep economic, industrial, and geopolitical implications, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman  announced the creation of dedicated Rare Earth Corridors (RECs)  across four mineral-rich Indian States — Odisha, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu  — during her Union Budget 2026–27 speech  in Parliament on Sunday, February 1, 2026 . Presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget  for the financial year April 2026 to March 2027 , Sit

In 1999, when February 28 fell on a Sunday, then Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha presented the Budget a day earlier on Saturday, February 27, during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee–led NDA government. Nirmala Sitharaman Creates History With 9th Consecutive Union Budget Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman  created history on February 1 by presenting her ninth consecutive Union Budget , becoming the first Finance Minister in India  to deliver nine Budgets in an unbroken sequence

The Budget Session of Parliament 2026  officially commenced on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 , setting the stage for the presentation of the Economic Survey of India  and the Union Budget 2026–27 . The session, which will span 65 days , is scheduled to conclude on Thursday, April 2, 2026 , and will comprise 30 sittings  across two phases. The Budget Session opened with a joint address by the President of India  to both Houses of Parliament — the Lok Sabha  and the Rajya Sabha  

The Union Government has opened the process of public consultation for the Union Budget 2026–27 , inviting citizens to share their ideas and suggestions ahead of its presentation in February. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that the upcoming budget reflects the expectations, priorities, and aspirations of the people , while also supporting inclusive economic growth and long-term national development . Members of the public, including stakeholders from various sectors, ca