All-Party Meeting to Precede Crucial Budget Session

Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Pramod Tiwari will join the all-party meeting led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, ahead of the budget session starting July 22. The Halwa ceremony traditions were upheld by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who initiated the final budget preparation phase.

The Deputy leader of the Congress party in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi, and Deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, Pramod Tiwari, will attend the all-party meeting ahead of the budget session on Sunday. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will lead the meeting with floor leaders from both houses, as per a press release from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

The meeting is slated for 11:00 am on July 21 at the Main Committee Room, Parliament House Annexe, New Delhi. The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on July 22 and could conclude on August 12, depending on the Government Business requirements.

On July 16, the Halwa ceremony took place in North Block, marking the final stage of the budget preparation process for 2024-25. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary, and secretaries participated in this customary event. The ceremony involves cooking the Indian sweet dish in a large 'kadhai'. The Finance Minister stirs the 'kadhai' and serves the halwa to acknowledge the hard work of the finance ministry officials. The ceremony also signals the start of the lockdown at the ministry, restricting officials from leaving until the budget is presented in Parliament.

Since 1980, the printing of the Union Budget has been a fixture at the North Block's basement, ensuring detailed preparation and security.

(With inputs from agencies.)