India News

Why India’s Union Budget is now presented on February 1

India shifted the Union Budget date from late February to February 1 in 2017 to give ministries and taxpayers more time before the new financial year begins.

Published

3 months ago

January 31, 2026

[email protected]

The Union Budget is among the most closely followed annual exercises in India, setting out the government’s revenue plans and spending priorities for the coming financial year. While it is now presented every year on February 1, this was not always the norm.

For decades, India followed a British-era tradition of presenting the Union Budget on the last working day of February. This meant that once Parliament approved the proposals, ministries, businesses and taxpayers had very little time to prepare before the new financial year began on April 1.

In many cases, by the time the Budget proposals were implemented, the financial year had already started. This resulted in delays in rolling out government schemes, policy changes and tax measures.

Why the date was advanced

The practice changed in 2017, when then finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the Union Budget on February 1 for the first time. The idea was to provide adequate time for ministries and departments to finalise spending plans and ensure smoother execution from the beginning of the financial year.

Since then, the February 1 presentation has continued, allowing stakeholders across sectors more time to adjust to new tax rules and policy decisions before April.

Budget timing also saw a shift

The Union Budget has seen changes not only in date but also in timing. Until 1999, the Budget was traditionally presented at 5 pm, another colonial-era legacy.

That year, then finance minister Yashwant Sinha moved the presentation to 11 am. The shift was aimed at improving media coverage and enabling wider public engagement with Budget announcements on the same day.

Legal challenge and Supreme Court view

The decision to advance the Budget date also faced legal scrutiny. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court arguing that an earlier Budget presentation could give the Centre an opportunity to announce voter-friendly measures ahead of state elections.

The Supreme Court dismissed the plea, observing that the Union Budget concerns the entire country and is not linked to individual state elections. The bench held that the frequency of state polls could not obstruct the functioning of the central government.

Up Next

Union Budget 2026: Why Budget announcements matter for stock market direction

Don't Miss

Sharad Pawar reacts to Sunetra Pawar’s deputy chief minister appointment

India News

Turnout crosses 80% in Bengal and Tamil Nadu till 5 PM in key elections

Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu elections witness strong voter turnout, crossing 80% with largely peaceful polling.

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2026

[email protected]

Polling for the 2026 Assembly elections is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, with voters turning out in large numbers across key constituencies.

In West Bengal, voting is being held across 152 constituencies, with around 3.6 crore voters expected to participate in this phase. Security arrangements were tightened, and long queues of voters were seen at polling stations from early morning.

Turnout rises steadily through the day

Voter participation increased consistently as polling progressed. By afternoon, turnout had crossed the halfway mark in both states, indicating steady engagement.

As per latest updates till 5 PM, West Bengal recorded 89.92% turnout, while Tamil Nadu reported 82.24% voter participation.

Large electorate participates in phase 1

In West Bengal, nearly 3.6 crore eligible voters took part in the first phase across several districts, including Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri.

Tamil Nadu is witnessing a three-way contest between the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-BJP alliance, and actor Vijay’s entry into the political space.

Sporadic incidents reported

Polling has been largely peaceful, though isolated incidents were reported, including an attack on BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul’s car and a boycott reported in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Despite these disruptions, voting continued without major interruptions, and authorities maintained overall control.

High-stakes political contest

The elections are being closely watched as major political parties compete for power. West Bengal is witnessing a closely fought contest, while in Tamil Nadu, key regional rivals are battling for control of the state Assembly.

The outcome is expected to play an important role in shaping the political landscape of both states.

Education

UP Board result 2026 declared: Class 10 pass rate at 90.42%, class 12 at 80.38%

UP Board 2026 results are out with strong pass rates. Here’s how to check your score and key highlights.

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2026

[email protected]

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad has declared the UP Board Class 10 and Class 12 results for 2026 on April 23 at 4 pm.

This year, more than 52 lakh students registered for the exams, including over 27 lakh candidates in Class 10 and nearly 25 lakh in Class 12. The examinations were conducted between February 18 and March 12 across around 8,000 centres in the state.

Pass percentage and performance trends

The overall performance remains strong:

Class 10 pass percentage: 90.42%
Class 12 pass percentage: 80.38%

Girls have once again outperformed boys in both classes, continuing the trend seen in previous years.

How to check UP Board result 2026

Students can access their results through official platforms by following these steps:

Visit the official website: upmsp.edu.in or upresults.nic.in
Click on the result link for Class 10 or Class 12
Enter roll number and required details
View and download the provisional marksheet

Alternatively, results are also available via DigiLocker and other digital platforms.

What students should do after results

Students are advised to:

Download and print the provisional marksheet immediately
Collect the original marksheet from their respective schools later
Apply for re-evaluation or compartment exams if required

India News

Voting underway in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as turnout crosses 50% by afternoon

Voter turnout crosses 50% in West Bengal phase 1 and Tamil Nadu as polling continues across key constituencies.

Published

8 hours ago

April 23, 2026

[email protected]

Voting is underway in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu as the 2026 assembly elections see active participation from voters across both states. In West Bengal, the first phase of polling is being held across 152 constituencies in 16 districts, marking the beginning of a multi-phase election process.

Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is witnessing single-phase polling across all 234 assembly seats, making it a crucial electoral day for the state.

Polling began in the morning with voters arriving at booths early, and arrangements were in place to ensure smooth voting.

Turnout figures show steady participation

As voting progressed, turnout figures indicated moderate to strong participation in both states.

West Bengal recorded around 62.2% voter turnout by 1 pm
Tamil Nadu saw approximately 56.8% turnout by the same time

Earlier in the day, initial turnout trends showed gradual momentum as queues built up at polling stations.

High-stakes contest in both states

The elections are significant for major political parties in both regions.

In West Bengal, the contest remains largely between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, with several key constituencies drawing attention. Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to vote in this phase, highlighting the scale of the exercise.

Tamil Nadu’s election features a traditional contest between the DMK and AIADMK alliances, with the outcome expected to shape the state’s political direction.

Security and arrangements in place

Authorities have deployed security personnel and made logistical arrangements to ensure peaceful polling. Reports indicate that voting is largely proceeding smoothly, with monitoring systems in place across sensitive areas.

The election process in West Bengal will continue with the second phase scheduled for April 29, while Tamil Nadu will conclude voting in a single day.