In a time-honored tradition, the Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, hosted the annual Halwa ceremony at North Block on Tuesday, July 16, marking the commencement of preparations for the Union Budget 2024. The budget session of Parliament is set to begin on July 22 and conclude on August 12.
The Halwa ceremony, led by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary, and senior officials, saw the ceremonial preparation of the sweet dish in a large ‘kadhai’ (a traditional Indian cooking pot). This event is a yearly tradition performed before the “lock-in” process of Budget preparation begins.
During the ceremony, the Finance Minister stirs the ‘kadhai’ ceremoniously and serves the halwa to the people involved in the Budget-making process. This tradition, which began in 1980, is followed by the printing of the Union Budget within the basement of the North Block. It symbolizes the utmost secrecy and integrity of the Budget documents.
Following the ceremony, the “lock-in” process starts, indicating the beginning of Budget document printing. During this period, no official is allowed to leave the ministry compound, underscoring the importance of maintaining confidentiality and the gravity of the task at hand.
This budget session will be a milestone for Nirmala Sitharaman as she prepares to present her sixth full Union Budget and one interim budget on February 1, 2024. By doing so, she will surpass the record held by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, becoming the first to present the highest number of budgets in the parliament.
In line with recent trends, the Union Budget 2024 will also be presented in a paperless format, continuing the modern approach to budget presentation introduced in previous years.
The Halwa ceremony not only marks the beginning of the Budget preparation but also serves as a reminder of the dedication and hard work that goes into crafting the nation’s financial roadmap for the upcoming year.