On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presided over the traditional Halwa ceremony at the North Block, signaling the official countdown to the Union Budget 2026-27. This age-old ritual marks the final stage of budget preparation and the transition into a period of high-security isolation for ministry officials.
What is the Halwa Ceremony?
A fixture of Indian administrative tradition, the ceremony involves the preparation of halwa (a traditional Indian sweet) in a large vessel (kadhai) which is then served to everyone involved in the budget-making process.
- Symbolism: In Indian culture, it is considered auspicious to start significant tasks with something sweet. It serves as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work of the ministry staff.
- Secrecy: The ceremony marks the start of the “lock-in” period. To prevent any leaks of sensitive tax proposals or fiscal numbers, around 100 officials move into a secure basement in North Block. They remain completely cut off from the outside world—with no phones or internet—until the Finance Minister concludes her speech in Parliament.
Key Details for Budget 2026-27
This year’s budget is significant as it is Sitharaman’s ninth consecutive budget, setting a new record in Indian history.
- Budget Date: Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 11:00 AM IST.
- Paperless Format: For the sixth year in a row, the budget will be delivered in a digital format.
- Digital Access: All documents (Annual Financial Statement, Finance Bill, etc.) will be available on the “Union Budget Mobile App” and the official portal (indiabudget.gov.in) immediately after the speech.
- Economic Backdrop: The budget comes amid an expected 7.4% to 7.6% GDP growth for the current financial year.
Key Officials Behind the Budget
Accompanied by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, the Finance Minister is assisted by a high-profile team:
- Anuradha Thakur (Economic Affairs Secretary): The first woman to head this department, she is the primary architect of the budget.
- Arvind Shrivastava (Revenue Secretary): The man responsible for the crucial tax proposals and revenue targets.
- V. Anantha Nageswaran (Chief Economic Adviser): Providing the macroeconomic framework and growth projections.