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Budget 2026 Lock-In Begins: Halwa Ceremony Kicks Off Final Preparations

The traditional Halwa ceremony was held at the North Block Budget Press, marking the final stage of preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27. The ceremony, attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, initiates a strict 'lock-in' period for officials to ensure budget confidentiality. The government announced that all key budget documents will be made available in digital format via the Union Budget Mobile App and website. These documents will be accessible to the public and MPs only after the Finance Minister completes her Budget speech in Parliament on February 1.

Key Points: Budget 2026 Halwa Ceremony: Lock-In Starts, Digital Docs Announced

  • Halwa ceremony marks start of Budget lock-in
  • Officials enter isolation for confidentiality
  • Budget 2026-27 to be presented Feb 1
  • All documents to be available digitally via app
2 min read

Final preparations for Budget 2026 begin with Halwa ceremony

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman kicks off Budget 2026 lock-in with Halwa ceremony. Officials enter isolation; all documents to be available digitally.

"All Union Budget documents... will also be available on the 'Union Budget Mobile App' - Ministry of Finance"

New Delhi, Jan 27

The traditional Halwa ceremony, which marks the final stage of preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27, was held on Tuesday at the Budget Press in North Block.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.

The Halwa ceremony is an important ritual that signals the beginning of the 'lock-in' period for officials involved in preparing the Budget.

Once the ceremony is completed, these officials remain cut off from outside contact to ensure complete confidentiality until the Budget is presented.

The Union Budget 2026-27 is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on February 1.

During the ceremony, the Finance Minister was joined by secretaries of various departments under the Ministry of Finance and other senior officials associated with the Budget-making process.

FM Sitharaman also visited the Budget Press to review the final preparations and extended her best wishes to the entire team working on the Budget.

The government also announced that all Union Budget documents will be made available in digital format for easy public access.

These include key documents such as the Annual Financial Statement, also known as the Budget, the Demand for Grants and the Finance Bill.

"All Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill, will also be available on the 'Union Budget Mobile App' for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public in a digital accessible mode," Ministry of Finance said in a statement.

The Budget documents will be accessible through the Union Budget Mobile App, which is available in both English and Hindi.

The app can be downloaded on Android and iOS platforms and is also accessible through the Union Budget website, indiabudget.gov.in.

However, the Budget documents will be made available on the mobile app and the website only after the Finance Minister completes her Budget speech in Parliament on February 1.

"The Budget documents will be available on the Mobile App and the website after the completion of the Budget Speech by the Union Finance Minister in Parliament on February 1," the ministry added.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the digital push with the mobile app in Hindi and English. This will make the budget much more accessible to the common public. Now, let's hope the content of the budget is also as sweet as the halwa for the average citizen!
A
Aman W
While the ceremony is nice, I hope the focus remains on substance. The lock-in period is crucial for secrecy, but the real test is on Feb 1st. We need concrete plans to tackle inflation and support our farmers and MSMEs. The rituals won't matter if the policies don't deliver.
S
Sarah B
Fascinating to learn about this Indian tradition. The blend of modern technology (the app) with such a symbolic ceremony is really interesting. Looking forward to seeing how the budget addresses global economic challenges from an Indian perspective.
V
Vikram M
Jai Hind! The Halwa ceremony shows our rich administrative heritage. Best wishes to FM Sitharaman and the entire team. May the budget be strong for national security, infrastructure, and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'. The digital access is a welcome step for transparency.
K
Kavya N
As a young professional, my eyes are on the new tax regime and any incentives for skill development. The ceremony is a nice tradition, but I'm more interested in the fine print of the Finance Bill. Hope it's progressive for the youth and startups.

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