The central government will present the budget for the coming financial year in Parliament on Sunday, February 1. In the past, there were instances, when governments have presented budgets on weekends, but presenting one on a Sunday, a public holiday, remains rare. Stock markets stay closed on Sundays, and economic experts say the government chose this change to avoid market volatility.

This will be the ninth consecutive budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Earlier finance ministers Morarji Desai presented the budget a record ten times, while Chidambaram presented it nine times. The Union Budget resembles Ugadi pachadi, which mixes all six tastes. For the ruling party, it tastes like sweet nectar. For the opposition, it feels as bitter as neem leaves. When their roles change, the tastes reverse. 

Before the construction of Central Vista, North Block in Delhi housed the Ministry of Finance. Officials prepared the entire budget there. For about a week or ten days, the staff stayed inside the building around the clock. They ate, slept, and rested there without going home until they finished the budget. This arrangement ensured secrecy. 

On the final day, the finance minister personally supervise and  distribute halwa  prepared there to all staff members. This ceremony has continued for decades. 

Personal involvement does not mean the minister cooks the halwa. It means the minister symbolically stirs it once with a large ladle. Many people think a budget means a statement of income and expenditure. The word actually means a leather bag. It comes from the old French word Bougette. 

The finance minister traditionally carried the budget documents to Parliament in a leather bag. The form and character of the budget have also changed. Earlier, families across the country gathered around radios and televisions to listen to the budget.  After the budget lost its link with cooking gas and fuel prices, public interest and anticipation declined.

The union government will present the budget on February 1. Let us see whether it serves halwa in the budget. More importantly, let us see whether it offers anything more to the people.

– Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao Veteran Journalist