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Halwa Ceremony Kicks Off Final Stage of Union Budget 2026-27 Preparation

The Halwa ceremony, symbolizing the start of the lock-in period for budget officials, was held in North Block. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the event alongside senior ministry officials. The Union Budget for 2026-27 is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on February 1, 2026. Following the Finance Minister's speech, all budget documents will be made available digitally via a dedicated mobile app and website.

Key Points: Halwa Ceremony Marks Final Stage of Union Budget 2026-27 Prep

  • Halwa ceremony marks budget lock-in
  • Budget to be presented Feb 1, 2026
  • Documents on Mobile App post-speech
  • Sitharaman reviewed Budget Press
2 min read

Final stage of Union Budget preparation commences with the Halwa Ceremony

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the Halwa ceremony, initiating the lock-in period for officials preparing the Union Budget 2026-27.

"extending her best wishes to the entire budget team - Finance Ministry release"

New Delhi, January 27

The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2026-27, was held today in the Budget Press at North Block, in the presence of Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman.

The 'Halwa ceremony' precedes the 'lock-in' of the officials involved in the preparation of the Union Budget. The Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on February 1, 2026.

At the Halwa Ceremony, the Union Finance Minister was accompanied by the Secretaries of all the Departments under the Ministry of Finance and other senior officers involved in Budget preparation.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was also present.

As part of the ceremony, Sitharaman also took a tour of the Budget Press and reviewed the preparations, besides extending her best wishes to the entire budget team.

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, a Finance Ministry release said.

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, it added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the focus on digital access with the mobile app. As a taxpayer, I just hope the budget focuses on job creation and controlling inflation. The ceremony is nice, but the real test is the content on Feb 1st.
D
David E
Fascinating to see this blend of tradition and modernity. The Halwa ceremony for a lock-in period is a great cultural practice. The mobile app initiative is a step in the right direction for transparency and accessibility.
A
Aditya G
While I appreciate the tradition, I hope the secrecy of the "lock-in" leads to well-considered policies and not last-minute populist announcements. The budget needs to address rural distress and support MSMEs substantially.
S
Shreya B
The team must be working day and night. The halwa is a small gesture of thanks. My expectations? Please increase the tax rebate under the new regime and provide more incentives for green energy. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
A respectful criticism: The ceremony and the app are good optics, but the budget-making process still feels very top-down. Would like to see more substantive pre-budget consultations with states and industry bodies from diverse sectors.
N
Nisha Z
It's a nice ritual. But as a middle-class citizen,

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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