The Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) has announced that pre-budget meetings for the Union Budget 2026-27 will commence on October 9, 2025, and continue until mid-November. The consultations, chaired by the Secretary (Expenditure), will play a pivotal role in shaping the Revised Estimates (RE) for FY 2025-26 and the Budget Estimates (BE) for FY 2026-27.
Budget Circular and Data Submission
Releasing the official Budget Circular for 2026-27, the DEA instructed ministries and departments to submit their provisional Statement of Budget Estimates (SBE) in the prescribed format via the Union Budget Information System (UBIS) by October 3, 2025.
The SBEs submitted will serve as the foundation for pre-budget discussions. These meetings are designed to streamline inputs from various ministries, ensuring consistency in expenditure planning and revenue projections.
Focus Areas of Discussion
The DEA stated that deliberations will focus on:
- Evaluating expenditure requirements for key programmes and schemes.
- Reviewing tax and non-tax revenues.
- Assessing receipts and resource mobilisation.
- Determining net expenditure projections for the next fiscal year.
Coordinated Budgeting Approach
According to the DEA, the exercise underscores the importance of a coordinated and structured approach in Union Budget formulation. By bringing together financial and policy priorities across ministries, the government aims to present a budget that balances fiscal discipline with growth imperatives.
The Union Budget 2026-27, to be presented in February 2026, will be the second full-year budget under the Modi 3.0 government and is expected to prioritise infrastructure spending, fiscal consolidation, and welfare schemes.
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