Nirmala Sitharaman will present her eighth consecutive Budget—an achievement in itself. That she is also India’s first woman finance minister to do so only adds to the significance. More than gender, though, this Budget is about continuity—both in its presenter and its likely themes. The only difference this time? A Saturday session and a special market trading window.For Indian stock markets, which have been undergoing a sharp valuation correction for months, the Budget is a crucial event. But before that, investors will focus on key global and domestic signals. The US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision on Jan 30 will set the global tone. The next day, India’s fiscal deficit figures, infrastructure output data, and the RBI’s Monetary & Credit Information Review will offer key macroeconomic insights. A week after the Budget, the RBI will announce its own interest rate decision on Feb 7.
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