<h1>Finance ministry begins 2026-27 budget preparations; pre-budget meetings start Oct 9, advisers submit appendix data by Oct 3</h1> The finance ministry will begin preparations for the 2026-27 annual budget with pre-budget meetings starting October 9, 2025, and requires financial advisers to enter specified appendix data by October 3, 2025, with hard copies for cross-verification. Budget estimates will be provisionally finalised after these meetings, with revised estimate discussions continuing until mid-November. Ministries must justify continued funding and corpus funds for autonomous bodies and implementing agencies. The budget is expected to be presented on February 1, 2026, against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, a steep 50% US tariff on shipments, and projected GDP growth of 6.3-6.8% for the current year.