Halwa Ceremony Kicks Off Final Preparations for India's Union Budget 2025
The traditional event, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, marks the start of the lock-in period for officials finalizing the budget ahead of its February 1 presentation.
- The Halwa Ceremony, a longstanding tradition, signals the final stage of Union Budget preparation and involves serving a traditional Indian dessert to officials involved in the process.
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, presenting her eighth consecutive budget, presided over the event alongside other key officials in the North Block of New Delhi.
- This ritual marks the beginning of the 'lock-in' period, where officials are confined to the Finance Ministry premises to ensure confidentiality until the budget is presented in Parliament.
- The Union Budget, scheduled for presentation on February 1, 2025, will outline the government's fiscal policies, including planned expenditures and revenues for the upcoming financial year.
- India's economic backdrop, including recent slower GDP growth rates and revised forecasts, adds significance to the upcoming budget's potential measures for economic recovery and growth.
Hindustan Times 
Free Press Journal 