M31GlobalNews, New Delhi — The Halwa ceremony is an age-old tradition that signifies the final stage of budget preparation in India. It is more than just a sweet ritual—it’s a way to acknowledge the dedication of the Finance Ministry officials and marks the start of printing the Union Budget documents before they are presented in Parliament.
Budget 2025: Halwa Ceremony to Take Place in North Block
With just days remaining before the Budget 2025 presentation, the much-awaited Halwa ceremony is scheduled to take place this Friday at North Block in New Delhi. The ceremony signals the completion of the budget preparation process for the financial year 2025-26.
As is tradition, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lead the event. Joining her will be Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary, along with senior secretaries, officers, and staff members who have been closely involved in compiling the budget.
What is the Halwa Ceremony?
The Halwa ceremony is an annual ritual that is deeply rooted in Indian tradition. In this ceremony, a large amount of the Indian dessert, halwa, is prepared in a huge ‘kadhai’ (wok) inside the North Block premises. The Finance Minister herself stirs the halwa and serves it to the officials and staff involved in the budget-making process.
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This is more than just a celebratory event—it symbolizes the Finance Ministry’s recognition of the hard work put in by its team. Additionally, it signals the beginning of the “lock-in” phase, during which budget documents are printed and the budget team works in complete isolation.
Why is the Halwa Ceremony Significant?
The ceremony has a dual significance. First, it serves as a gesture of appreciation for the ministry’s tireless work. Second, it marks the onset of strict lockdown protocols within the Finance Ministry. During this phase, all officials associated with the budget are confined to the ministry compound and are only allowed to leave once the budget is formally presented in Parliament.
This lockdown is essential to maintain the confidentiality of the budget documents. The printing of the budget has been carried out in a secure basement at North Block since 1980, ensuring no leaks occur before the official presentation.
When is Budget 2025 Being Presented?
The Budget 2025 date has been confirmed for February 1, as per tradition. The Parliament’s budget session will begin on January 31 with an address by President Droupadi Murmu to a joint sitting of both houses. The session will take a short break from February 14 to March 10 and is scheduled to conclude by April 4.
This will be Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s seventh consecutive budget presentation, setting a record. She has already surpassed former Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s feat of presenting five annual budgets and one interim budget during his tenure as Finance Minister.
What’s Unique About Budget 2025?
The upcoming budget will continue the recent trend of being paperless, with all documents made available digitally. As the government nears the end of its third term, expectations are high for this budget to provide key insights into India’s economic strategy for the coming years.
Budget 2025 also comes at a critical time, as the Indian economy faces challenges such as weak GDP growth and sluggish consumer demand. Recent figures reveal that the economy grew by 5.4% in real terms during the July-September quarter of FY 2024-25, significantly below the RBI’s projection of 7%. Growth during the April-June quarter was also lower than expected.
Given these economic challenges, the announcements in Budget 2025 will likely shape public expectations and set the tone for the remaining period of the Modi 3.0 government.
Stay tuned to M31GlobalNews for more updates on Budget 2025, its implications, and expert analysis of the government’s economic strategies.
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