India, Jan. 21 -- Days before the Union Budget is tabled in Parliament, a small yet significant ceremony is undertaken behind the closed doors of the Finance Ministry. The Halwa Ceremony is a tradition that marks the Budget's entry into its final stage of preparation ahead of its presentation in Parliament on February 1.

The Halwa ceremony this year is set to take place next week, ahead of the final budget announcement to take place on February 1, 2026, at 11 am. It also signals the beginning of quarantine for staff involved in the Budget printing exercise, which usually takes place at the printing press area.

It is an annual ceremony, which will be held before the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman will present the Union Budget 2026-27...