Budget 2026 Countdown: Inside the Halwa Ceremony Ritual and Budget Expectations

With the Union Budget 2026 Halwa ceremony, held on Jan 27, the last five days leading up to the Budget presentation officially began. The Budget 2026- 27 will be presented at the Lok Sabha on a Sunday at 11 a.m. hence, keeping with the long- standing tradition of presenting the Budget on February 1st of each year.

Members of Parliament and the general public will have easy access to all Union Budget documents on the” Union Budget Mobile App,” including the Annual Financial Statement( also known as the Budget), Demand for subventions( DG), and Finance Bill. 

Following the Finance Minister’s Budget speech in Parliament on February 1st, documents will be available on the website and “Union Budget Mobile App”. 

 Budget 2026: Which sectors are in the limelight this time? 

Railroads, structure, civic development, manufacturing, motorcars, defense, electronics, MSME, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence are some of the major industries to watch this time. 

The government is also likely to provide funding for other sectors, such as healthcare, tourism,  husbandry, and logistics. 

What is the Halwa Ceremony? 

The Halwa Ceremony in India signifies the completion of the Union Budget preparation process. It indicates that a private lock-in period has begun. Also, it’s a thank you from the Finance Minister to the hundreds of workers, like clerks and printers, who worked behind the scenes for months on the document.

 What’s the ‘lock- in’ period before Budget Day? 

After the Halwa Ceremony, about 60–70 officers stay in the North Block, cut off from families and outside communication, until the Budget is presented on February 1 in order to avoid any leaks that could affect the market. They are not permitted to use any communication  bias, including their own phones. 

 Why is the Halwa Ceremony important? 

 As per Indian culture, any auspicious task or the last phase of a task starts with something sweet. All officers and workers involved in the budget preparation are served halwa after the Finance Minister, presently Nirmala Sitharaman, stirs the kadhai. 

Why is the Halwa Ceremony celebrated before the Budget? 

The official beginning of publishing the budget documents is also marked by the Halwa Ceremony. The budget figures and proposals remain unchanged after the ceremony. After printing, the documents are ready to be presented on Budget Day in Parliament. For this reason, the ceremony is regarded as the last official step before the budget is released to the public.

Budget 2026 expectations

Budget 2026: Lifestyle transformation is underway…

“In 2026 budget, we hope to see continued policy support for the premium housing segment across India. This becomes especially important for Tier 2 cities, where a lifestyle transformation is underway. Active home buyers are demanding larger living spaces, upscale amenities, and gated community environments that match metro standards,” said Parvinder Singh, CEO, Trident Realty.

“If the government provides incentive-linked funding and greater investment in urban infrastructure, it will further strengthen these emerging markets and enhance buyer confidence. In Tier 2 cities, luxury housing is not only about premium living; it also helps create jobs, attract talent, and build future-ready urban ecosystems,”he added.

Budget 2026: Must ease middle-class tax burdens…

“Budget 2026 should recognise that education outcomes are inseparable from household economics and employment realities. When teachers face tax pressures and young graduates struggle to repay education loans after layoffs, it signals deeper stress points,” said Dr. Ashok Kumar Mittal, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha Founder-Chancellor, Lovely Professional University.

“The upcoming Budget must ease middle-class tax burdens, strengthen education-linked employment pathways, and ensure that skilling and higher education translate into stable livelihoods,” he added.