With the Union Budget 2026 approaching, NDTV Profit has announced the launch of its expansive editorial campaign titled ‘Return on Watching’, aimed at delivering in-depth insight, clarity and context around one of India’s most critical economic events of the year. 

The initiative is positioned as a comprehensive, multi-platform conversation for investors, businesses, professionals and households tracking the Finance Minister’s roadmap for growth.

According to a  press release issued by the network, the campaign is rooted in NDTV Profit’s core philosophy of ‘For Your Profit’ and is built on the idea that time and attention are valuable commodities. Applying the principle of return on investment to news consumption, the channel says its Budget coverage is designed to ensure that every moment spent watching translates into actionable understanding and informed decision-making.

The campaign will run across television, digital, social media and live streaming platforms, supported by on-ground activations. Coverage will be led by NDTV CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal, Managing Editor Tamanna Inamdar, Markets Editor Niraj Shah and the wider NDTV Profit editorial leadership, bringing together some of the most recognised voices in Indian business journalism.

NDTV Profit’s programming will span the entire Budget lifecycle, beginning with pre-Budget expectations and policy signals, followed by live and uninterrupted coverage of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s record ninth consecutive Union Budget, and extending into detailed post-Budget analysis. The focus will remain on markets, taxation, industry, households and long-term economic growth.

A key pillar of this year’s editorial effort is ‘Budget for Bharat’, a nationwide reporting initiative featuring on-ground stories from 32 states and regions. The segment aims to assess how central policies and schemes translate into real-world impact for citizens, entrepreneurs and local economies, bringing regional perspectives into the national Budget discourse.

The editoril build-up, themed ‘The Growth Agenda’, will include a slate of original formats such as ‘Budget Breaking’, ‘Budgetopedia’, ‘The Budget Math’ and ‘Budget Wishlist’, along with Budget Masters, which will feature leading economists, policymakers and industry leaders. Another highlight is the NDTV Profit Budget Think Tank, a real-time analysis forum offering instant expert interpretation as the Budget speech unfolds.

Market veterans including Saurabh Mukherjea, Madhusudhan Kela, Nilesh Shah, Sandeep Bhatia, Rashesh Shah, Sunil Singhania, Radhika Gupta and Dharmesh Mehta will feature across the coverage, offering data-driven perspectives on sectors, strategy and market direction.

On Budget Day, NDTV Profit will carry the Finance Minister’s speech live from early morning, supported by real-time market reactions, sector dashboards, on-ground reports and graphics-led explainers. Post-Budget programming will include ‘Mega Budget Decode’, editor roundtables, citizen reactions and sector-wise impact specials, culminating in the NDTV Budget Conclave in New Delhi on February 7, with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in attendance.

Announcing the initiative, Rahul Kanwal said the Union Budget remains the most important economic conversation of the year, and that ‘Return on Watching’ reflects NDTV Profit’s commitment to helping viewers understand policy and act with confidence. Tamanna Inamdar added that the campaign is designed to move beyond headlines and equip viewers with the insight needed to interpret the Budget and plan their financial future.