New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Budget preparation process for Union Budget 2026-27, was held today in the Budget Press at North Block, in the presence of Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman.

The 'Halwa ceremony' precedes the 'lock-in' of the officials involved in the preparation of the Union Budget. The Union Budget 2026-27 will be presented on February 1, 2026.

At the Halwa Ceremony, the Union Finance Minister was accompanied by the Secretaries of all the Departments under the Ministry of Finance and other senior officers involved in Budget preparation.

Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was also present.

As part of the ceremony, Sitharaman al...