Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her ninth Budget in the Parliament today (February 1, 2026). This is the first time in the history of India that the Union Budget is being presented on a Sunday. The Budget is expected to unveil measures to sustain growth momentum, maintain fiscal discipline, and contain reforms that could buffer the economy from global trade frictions, including U.S. tariffs.
A day after the conclusion of the three-day State mourning for late Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic air crash in Baramati on January 28, his wife Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra at a brief ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai on Saturday (January 31, 2026) evening. The swearing-in, which lasted barely a few minutes, took place amid intense political activity in Baramati and Mumbai, with several leaders questioning the need for the hurried decision. Sunetra Pawar will oversee three portfolios—Excise, Minority Affairs and Sports and Youth Welfare.
