Wed Jan 22 09:30:12 UTC 2025: ## Stock Markets to Remain Open for Union Budget 2025 Presentation

**Mumbai, India –** The Indian stock markets will remain open for trading on Saturday, February 1st, 2025, to coincide with the presentation of the Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have confirmed regular trading hours of 9:15 am to 3:30 pm.

This follows precedent set in 2020 and 2015, when the Budget was also presented on a Saturday. The decision to keep the markets open allows investors to react immediately to the government’s fiscal announcements and policy changes. Live trading during the Budget presentation has been standard practice since the presentation time was shifted to 11 am in 2001.

This will be Ms. Sitharaman’s eighth consecutive Budget presentation. Investor anticipation is high, particularly regarding announcements affecting infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology sectors, which are expected to see significant impacts based on the Budget’s allocations. The Budget’s proposals can significantly influence market sentiment, with positive reforms boosting confidence and negative measures potentially dampening it.

Historically, Union Budgets have had profound effects on the Indian economy and stock markets. Notable examples include the introduction of wealth tax in 1957-58, the liberalization reforms of 1991-92, the tax cuts of 1997-98, and the 2017-18 merger of the Railway and General Budgets. The upcoming Budget is expected to have a similarly significant impact, shaping India’s economic trajectory for the year ahead.

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