Nirmala Sitharaman Attends Halwa Ceremony Ahead of Union Budget 2026-27 Presentation

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in the traditional 'halwa ceremony' marking the final stage of preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27.
• The Budget will be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1, and this will be Sitharaman's ninth consecutive Budget.
• The ceremony, held at North Block, signifies the start of the 'lock-in' period for officials to maintain secrecy of Budget documents.
• The 2026-27 Budget will be presented in a completely paperless format, with documents available on the Union Budget Mobile App.
• India's economy is expected to grow at 7.6 per cent in the current financial year, providing a backdrop for the upcoming Budget.

Why It Matters: Nirmala Sitharaman attended the halwa ceremony, signaling the final preparations and lock-in for the paperless Union Budget 2026-27.