Marking the traditional start of printing the Indian Union Budget documents, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday participated in the iconic age old annual halwa ceremony. This ceremony involves distributing a sweet dish called halwa to staff involved in the budget preparation process.The Halwa ceremony was also attended by MoS Finance Shri @mppchaudhary along with Secretaries of @FinMinIndia, Chairmen @IncomeTaxIndia & @cbic_india, besides officials of @FinMinIndia & North Block Budget Press. The Union Budget 2024-25 will be presented on 23rd July, 2024.(2/4) pic.twitter.com/Nng6bGNrBU— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 16, 2024The final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2024-25 commenced with the customary Halwa ceremony in the presence of Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman, in New Delhi, today. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/X1ywbQx70A— Ministry of Finance (@FinMinIndia) July 16, 2024What is the Halwa CeremonyThis customary ritual signifies the commencement of the budget printing process and precedes a period of seclusion for ministry officials (lock-in) until the Budget presentation in Parliament. Sitharaman, accompanied by Finance Ministry officials, took a look at the Budget Press and reviewed preparations before sharing well wishes with the dedicated staff.Budget access via mobile appWhile the official Budget presentation is scheduled for July 23, the public can access the budget documents soon after through the official Union Budget Mobile App. Available in both English and Hindi on Android and iOS platforms, the app allows anyone, from Members of Parliament to the general public, to view the final budget documents.What documents will be availableThe app will provide access to key budget documents including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly referred to as the Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), and the Finance Bill.A collaborative effortThe halwa ceremony underscores the collaborative nature of budget preparation, acknowledging the dedication of ministry officials and Budget press staff who work tirelessly to ensure a smooth presentation of the Union Budget.
