On February 1, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce the Budget for fiscal year 2022-23, with the “halwa ceremony” – a custom that marks the end of the Budget-making process – setting the tone.
The “halwa ceremony” is usually held in the Finance Ministry’s headquarters in the North Block basement of the Secretariat building in the national capital. The celebrations begin with the Finance Minister stirring the dessert in a traditional kadhai (cauldron) before serving it to her colleagues. During the ceremony, the ministers of state (MoS Finance) and other top officials from the ministry are present.
This ceremony also serves as a precursor to an important event that will occur shortly after. For the ten days leading up to the Budget’s presentation, the North Block transforms into Fort Knox, with all officials and staff involved in the budget-making process isolating themselves to ensure strict secrecy about the document. Even the Finance Minister is subject to stringent regulations. During this time, she is the only one who is permitted to enter and exit the premises.
Officials did not have to stay back last year since, for the first time, a paperless budget was presented. Previously, the “halwa ceremony” signalled the start of the printing of the Budget paper. Because no printing was done last year, the ceremony was held nine days before the presentation. Last year, the government also released the Union Budget mobile app, which allows individuals to view the budget in digital format.
The “halwa ceremony” is being held as a way of recognising and appreciating the work of the staff involved in the months-long budgeting process. Everyone who worked on the important document is served halwa.
For decades, the custom has been carried out in the North Block’s basement, which also houses the special printing press that printed the Budget documents from 1980 until 2020.
After 2019, 2020, and 2021, this will be Sitharaman’s fourth budget. Last year, she read the Budget from a tablet in parliament.
