The Finance Ministry will begin pre-budget meetings for the Union Budget 2027-28 on October 12. The exercise will run till November 13.

The meetings will be chaired by the Secretary (Expenditure). They will cover the Revised Estimates for 2026-27 and the Budget Estimates for 2027-28.

Ministries and departments must enter their financial data in the Union Budget Information System by October 6. Hard copies must be submitted for cross-verification.

After the discussions, provisional expenditure ceilings will be set for each ministry. Final ceilings will be decided after factoring in priorities and revenue projections.

The Budget is likely to be presented on February 1, 2027. It will be the tenth straight Budget for Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, equalling Morarji Desai’s record.

The exercise comes amid global uncertainty and high food and fuel prices. The Budget is expected to focus on reforms, job creation and boosting domestic demand. Officials said realistic estimates will help avoid frequent mid-year changes to spending plans.