The stage is all set for the Union Budget 2019 by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 5. The traditional 'Halwa ceremony' was held at the Finance Ministry on Saturday, which marked the beginning of printing of Budget documents.
The traditional 'Halwa ceremony' was held at the Finance Ministry in the North Block on Saturday, which marks the beginning of printing of Budget documents. As part of the ritual, 'halwa' is prepared in a big 'kadhai' (large frying pot) and served to the entire staff in the ministry. The significance of the event is that 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 till the presentation of the Budget in the Lok Sabha. They are not even allowed to contact their near and dear ones through phone or any other form of communication, like e-mail. Only very senior officials in the finance ministry are permitted to go home.
Even mobile phone jammers are installed to block phone calls. Internet connections of staff and senior officials are cut. Phone calls made through landlines installed are closely monitored. In a press note, the finance ministry today said, "To maintain the secrecy of budget, there is a 'lock-in' of the officials involved in making the budget. Budget press situated in North Block, which houses all the officials in the period leading up to the presentation of the Union budget. These officers and staff gain touch with their near and dear ones only after the budget is presented by the Union finance minister in Parliament."
Until 1950, the Budget papers were printed in Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, the venue was moved to the North Block after a certain portion of the budget was leaked. The North Block basement has since remained the venue for printing the Budget since then. The printing of Budget documents starts roughly a week ahead of presenting in the Parliament after the customary halwa ceremony.
