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Halwa ceremony, bilingual move: 5 interesting facts about India’s Union Budget
In 1950, the Budget was leaked during the printing process, prompting a major change in how the documents were handled.
As finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2026 at 11am on Sunday in Parliament, the annual exercise once again draws attention to the many lesser-known moments and traditions that have shaped India’s Budget history over the decades.
1. India’s first budget after Independence
India’s first Budget after Independence was presented in 1947 by then finance minister RK Shanmukham Chetty. The task came at a challenging time, as the newly independent nation was grappling with economic uncertainty and strong financial headwinds while laying the foundations of its fiscal framework.
2. The longest budget speech on record
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman holds the record for delivering the longest Budget speech in India’s parliamentary history. In 2020, her Budget address lasted 2 hours and 42 minutes, a record that remains unbroken.
3. The halwa ceremony
One of the most recognisable Budget traditions is the Halwa ceremony, which marks the final stage of the Budget-making process. As part of the ritual, halwa is prepared and served to finance ministry officials and staff involved in drafting the Budget, just before the start of the lock-in period.
4. When the budget was leaked
In 1950, the Budget was leaked during the printing process, prompting a major change in how the documents were handled. Following the incident, Budget printing was shifted from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Minto Road, and later, in 1980, moved again to the basement of North Block, where it remains.
5. From English-only to bilingual
Until 1955, the Union Budget was presented exclusively in English. From the 1955–56 financial year onwards, Budget documents began to be presented in both English and Hindi, reflecting a broader push to make fiscal policy more accessible.
Together, these moments offer a glimpse into how the Union Budget has evolved. Traditionally, Indian traders used a ‘bahi khata’, a cloth ledger, to maintain accounts. In 2021, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Sitharaman replaced the physical bahi khata with a digital tablet, signalling both safety and a step toward a Digital India approach.
