Halwa Ceremony Marks Final Stage of Budget 2026 Preparations at North Block

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the traditional Halwa ceremony at North Block, signaling the final phase of Union Budget 2026-27 preparations.
• The Union Budget is scheduled to be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1.
• The ceremony involves preparing and serving halwa to officials and staff involved in budget preparation, signifying the finalization of major budget decisions.
• Following the ceremony, budget-related officers and staff enter a 'lock-in period' in the North Block basement, cut off from external contact to prevent leaks until the budget is presented.
• Finance Minister Sitharaman reviewed preparations at the Budget Press; the Union Budget will be completely digital, accessible via the 'Union Budget Mobile App'.

Why It Matters: The traditional Halwa ceremony at North Block officially kicks off the final, confidential phase of Budget 2026 preparations.