Before the presentation of the budget in the country today, people have many questions and expectations are also in the queue. In ABP’s special conversation ‘Chaupal on Budget’, the people of UP and Bihar have expressed their views openly. This discussion took place in Lucknow and Patna just before the general budget, in which youth, women and common citizens were involved. At present, all eyes were fixed on the Union Budget to be presented on 1 February 2026.

People walking in the park in the capital Lucknow, in the Chaupal on the budget, people said that the government is taking taxes on a large scale and taxes should be cut in this budget. At the same time, the prices of gold and silver have increased a lot and something should be thought about reducing them. Women said that gold is the accumulated capital of women and its rates are rising so much that no one can collect it.

Expectations of youth and common people

The youth participating in the Chaupal clearly said that the government should give top priority to employment generation in the budget. He said that inflation is continuously increasing, but income is not increasing in proportion to it, due to which living is becoming difficult. Many people demanded strict control on inflation. Concern was also expressed about the rising prices of gold and silver and it was said that the situation has become such that “the condition of gold is such that darshan has become rare.” A youth sarcastically said that the government makes goods cheap, but its parts become expensive, like if a book is cheap then paper becomes expensive, if clothes become cheap then thread becomes expensive.

Demand for focus on women, education and Bihar

The women present in the Chaupal appealed to the government to prepare a budget keeping in mind the kitchen expenses. He said that gas, food items and items of daily needs are becoming increasingly expensive, due to which the household budget is deteriorating. People expressed the need for more investment in education and health sectors, so that the general public can get cheaper and better facilities. Along with this, the public talked about special focus on Bihar and expressed hope of taking concrete steps from the Center for the development of the state. The demand for strengthening infrastructure, road and rail connectivity also came forward prominently.

Let us tell you that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is going to present the full budget for the ninth consecutive time today i.e. on 1 February 2026. This is the second time in history, when the budget is being presented on a Sunday. Every section including salaried class, middle class, women and businessmen are expected to get great relief from this budget.

Before the presentation of the budget in the country today, people have many questions and expectations are also in the queue. In ABP’s special conversation ‘Chaupal on Budget’, the people of UP and Bihar have expressed their views openly. This discussion took place in Lucknow and Patna just before the general budget, in which youth, women and common citizens were involved. At present, all eyes were fixed on the Union Budget to be presented on 1 February 2026.

People walking in the park in the capital Lucknow, in the Chaupal on the budget, people said that the government is taking taxes on a large scale and taxes should be cut in this budget. At the same time, the prices of gold and silver have increased a lot and something should be thought about reducing them. Women said that gold is the accumulated capital of women and its rates are rising so much that no one can collect it.

Expectations of youth and common people

The youth participating in the Chaupal clearly said that the government should give top priority to employment generation in the budget. He said that inflation is continuously increasing, but income is not increasing in proportion to it, due to which living is becoming difficult. Many people demanded strict control on inflation. Concern was also expressed about the rising prices of gold and silver and it was said that the situation has become such that “the condition of gold is such that darshan has become rare.” A youth sarcastically said that the government makes goods cheap, but its parts become expensive, like if a book is cheap then paper becomes expensive, if clothes become cheap then thread becomes expensive.

Demand for focus on women, education and Bihar

The women present in the Chaupal appealed to the government to prepare a budget keeping in mind the kitchen expenses. He said that gas, food items and items of daily needs are becoming increasingly expensive, due to which the household budget is deteriorating. People expressed the need for more investment in education and health sectors, so that the general public can get cheaper and better facilities. Along with this, the public talked about special focus on Bihar and expressed hope of taking concrete steps from the Center for the development of the state. The demand for strengthening infrastructure, road and rail connectivity also came forward prominently.

Let us tell you that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is going to present the full budget for the ninth consecutive time today i.e. on 1 February 2026. This is the second time in history, when the budget is being presented on a Sunday. Every section including salaried class, middle class, women and businessmen are expected to get great relief from this budget.

The country’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the general budget in the Parliament today on Sunday (February 1, 2026). This will be the first time that the budget in India will be presented on a Sunday. Many sectors have big expectations from Budget 2026, while there is also a strong discussion across the country regarding the market movements. Meanwhile, a big question is also arising whether the stock markets will open because it is Sunday or not.

Amidst these questions, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has taken a sharp dig at the government. He wrote on social media platform

The question is not whether the stock market will open on Sunday, the question is how much more it will fall. pic.twitter.com/jE5WztWTWK

— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 31, 2026

Will the stock market open?

Let us tell you that there was confusion about whether the stock market would open on the budget day or not, but now the picture has become clear. National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange will remain open on 1 February 2026. Usually the stock markets are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, but considering the importance of the budget, a special live trading session will be organized.

Trading time and historical context

Let us tell you that on February 1, 2026, there will be regular trading in the stock market from 9:15 am to 3:30 pm. Generally these are the working hours from Monday to Friday. This is not the first time that the stock market is being opened on Sunday, after India’s independence, the stock market was opened only once before on Sunday in the history. Trading took place in the domestic stock market on Sunday, 28 February 1999. In such a situation, Budget 2026 is being considered special not only from the economic but also from the historical point of view.