New Delhi: In a tradition steeped in anticipation and ceremonial flair, the Halwa Ceremony for the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Interim Union Budget 2024 took place in North Block today. The event was graced by the presence of Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad.
The customary Halwa ceremony is a symbolic prelude to the “lock-in” phase of Budget preparation, setting the stage for one of the most significant financial events of the year. Continuing the eco-friendly tradition, the Halwa Ceremony paves the way for a paperless presentation of the Interim Union Budget 2024, following in the footsteps of the three previous full Union Budgets.
Scheduled for presentation on February 1, 2024, the Interim Union Budget will embrace digital accessibility. All Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement, Demand for Grants, and the Finance Bill, will be hosted on the “Union Budget Mobile App.” This user-friendly app, available in both English and Hindi, will cater to Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public, ensuring hassle-free access to budgetary documents. The app will be accessible on Android and iOS platforms, as well as the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in).
Post the Budget Speech by the Union Finance Minister in Parliament, the Budget documents will be made available on the Mobile App, transforming the budgetary experience into a seamless and digital affair.
Accompanying the Union Finance Minister at the Halwa Ceremony were key officials including Dr. T.V. Somanathan, Finance Secretary & Secretary Expenditure; Shri Ajay Seth, Secretary, Economic Affairs; Shri Tuhin Kanta Pandey, Secretary, DIPAM; Shri Sanjay Malhotra, Secretary, Revenue; Shri Nitin Gupta, Chairman, Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT); Shri Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, Chairman, Central Board for Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC); and Shri Ashish Vachhani, Additional Secretary (Budget), along with other officers and staff involved in the Budget preparation and compilation process.
As part of the ceremony, the Union Finance Minister took a tour of the Budget Press, reviewing the preparations and extending her best wishes to the officials involved. The Halwa Ceremony not only marks the beginning of the Budget countdown but also encapsulates the blend of tradition and technological modernization in India’s fiscal landscape.