To mark the beginning of the process of printing documents for the Union Budget 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held the ‘Halwa Ceremony’ at the Finance Ministry in New Delhi on Saturday. Sitharaman was seen distributing ‘halwa’ to the ministry staff, as the final stage of Union Budget 2021-22 commences with the ‘Halwa Ceremony.’

Every year, a few days before the Union Budget is presented on February 1, 2021, the government hosts an annual ‘halwa’ ceremony as a tradition that denotes the official kick-off of events.

The Finance Minister also launched an app, “Union Budget Mobile App” that will provide easy and quick access to the Union Budget information to all stakeholders.

The Finance Minister gives the green signal by stirring a ladle in the gigantic wok in which it is prepared. The ‘halwa’ was served to the staff of the Finance Ministry. 

After the ceremony, the employees engaged in the Budget-making process will head towards the printing press in the basement of North Block. For the next fortnight, around 100 officials find sanctuary in the fortified North Block with their tasks cut out for them.