No holiday for MPs, Budget on Feb 1 as scheduled, says Speaker

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday made it clear that the Union Budget for 2026–27 will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, as per established practice, dismissing speculation that the date could be changed as it falls on a Sunday.

“MPs are public servants, they are meant to serve the people and therefore there is no Sunday or a holiday for them,” Birla said at a press conference when asked whether the Budget would be presented on February 1.

He said the Budget Session of Parliament would commence on January 28 and continue till April 2.

The Speaker declined to comment on the issue of impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma, stating that as the matter was sub judice, no remarks could be made outside the court.

Highlighting technological changes in parliamentary functioning, Birla said that greater emphasis was being placed on AI-based services in Parliament-related work. He added that by 2027, all speeches and debates would be made available in 22 Indian languages on a real-time basis.

Responding to concerns over whether increased reliance on artificial intelligence could lead to reduced human intervention and job losses, Birla said that no permanent appointments had been made in Parliament over the past six years since he assumed office. Instead, he said, existing contractual human resources were being utilised for work, helping save public funds.