Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 27: The traditional Halwa ceremony, signaling the final stage of Union Budget preparations, was held on Tuesday at the Budget Press in North Block. Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary were present for the event.

The ritual marks the start of the official ‘lock-in’ period for officials involved in drafting the Budget, during which they are cut off from outside contact to maintain complete confidentiality ahead of the presentation. The Union Budget 2026-27 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on February 1.

FM Sitharaman, accompanied by secretaries and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance, inspected the final preparations at the press and extended her best wishes to the team managing the mammoth exercise.

In a move aimed at enhancing accessibility, the government announced that all Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (the Budget), Demand for Grants, and the Finance Bill, will be available digitally. The documents can be accessed via the Union Budget Mobile App in English and Hindi on both Android and iOS devices, as well as through the official Union Budget website, indiabudget.gov.in.

The ministry clarified that digital access to the Budget documents will be enabled only after the Finance Minister delivers her Budget speech in Parliament on February 1.

This year’s preparations highlight a blend of tradition and technology, combining the ritualistic Halwa ceremony with modern digital tools to ensure transparency and wider public access to key financial documents.