Halwa Ceremony Kicks Off Budget 2026-27 Final Preparations at North Block

• The traditional Halwa ceremony was held at the Budget Press in North Block, marking the final stage of Union Budget 2026-27 preparation.
• Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and MoS Pankaj Chaudhary attended the ceremony, initiating the 'lock-in' period for budget officials.
• Officials involved in drafting the Budget will remain isolated in North Block until the Budget is presented in Parliament to maintain secrecy.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, February 01, 2026.
• Budget documents will be available digitally on the Union Budget Mobile App (Android/iOS) and indiabudget.gov.in immediately after the speech.

Why It Matters: The Halwa ceremony signals the final, confidential phase of India's Union Budget 2026-27 preparation.