Budget 2024-25 Finalized: Halwa Ceremony Marks Crucial Phase at North Block

Attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and other officials, the annual Halwa event held at North Block marks the end of budget 2024-25 preparation. Deeply symbolic, this event entails Halwa’s preparation in a big “kadhai” to signal the start of a vital phase in which budget papers are finalized and secrecy is of great importance.

Originally scheduled in 1980, the event has grown to be a main event before Parliament’s budget announcement. It stands for the cooperation and commitment of the finance ministry officials working on the budget compilation. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman followed custom by stirring the Halwa before distributing it to top secretaries and Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary among the assembled officials.

Following the ceremony, the lock-in period guarantees that all those engaged stay in the ministry until the budget is publicly delivered, therefore preserving confidentiality and stopping leaks. With steps like unexpected inspections by the Intelligence Bureau chief to the printing press area in the basement of North Block to guarantee the protection of budget papers, this precaution is very vital.

Accessible via the Union Budget Mobile App and website, budget 2024-25 will be presented in a paperless manner as part of recent technical innovations. This project seeks to provide public as well as member of parliament simple access.

Planned for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, spanning July 22 to August 12, the budget presentation on July 23 will highlight the government’s financial plan for the next fiscal year. It was the sixth budget presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, exceeding the record set by previous Prime Minister Morarji Desai.

The Halwa event honors the commitment and work of people engaged in forming India’s economic policies in addition to stressing the need of beginning major activities with sweetness. It is still a beloved custom emphasizing unity, planning, and the excitement around the yearly budget presentation.