Union Budget 2024: In a customary 'halwa ceremony' held at the North Block, the initiation of the compilation of documents for the Budget 2024 was marked. Present at the event were Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman and Union Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Kisanrao Karad. The upcoming Budget, scheduled for presentation on February 1, is a crucial financial event, and the 'halwa ceremony' is an annual tradition that precedes it. This ritual involves the preparation and serving of "halwa" to officials and staff involved in the budget preparation process.