Budget preparation started with halwa ritual, will be presented on 1st Feb

Mumbai: Process of preparing the interim budget and printing of budget documents began with traditional halwa ceremony. Budget session of Parliament begins on January 31 and the interim budget for the financial year 2019-20 will be presented on February 1.

It is significant that In the wake of the term of the present government in May this year. The union budget will not be presented on February 1. Traditionally, in interim, there is only demand for an accounting. Although in the interim budget, there is also a sign of populist declarations as indicated by the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley by talking about the overdue demand. 

Halwa rituals were held in the Ministry of Finance, North Block. Jaitley who went to America because of health issues was not present on this occasion, but both the state Finance Minister (Shiv Prasad Shukla and P. Radhakrishnan) started the rituals by cutting the lace and also distributed the halwa among the employees of the ministry.

With this ritual, the officials and employees associated with the preparation and printing of the budget will remain there till the budget is presented in the Lok Sabha. They won't be able to meet anyone nor would be allowed to use their phones. They are allowed to go outside only after the budget is presented in Parliament.