The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget making process for Union Budget 2021-22, was held in North Block on January 23, 2021 in the presence of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.
- A customary Halwa ceremony is performed every year before the “lock-in” process of Budget preparation begins.
- As per the tradition, after the sweet dish is served, a large number of officials and support staff, who are directly associated with the Budget making and printing process, are required to stay in the ministry and remain cut off from their families until the presentation of the Budget in the Lok Sabha.
- Union Budget 2021-22 will be delivered in paperless form for the first time. The Union Budget 2021-22 is to be presented on 1st February, 2021.
- Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman also launched the “Union Budget Mobile App” for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience.
- The mobile App facilitates complete access to 14 Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), Finance Bill etc. as prescribed by the Constitution.
