Budget 2023-24: Finance Ministry officials ‘locked’ with halwa ceremony, know the story behind this aspect of budget – lock in process start with halwa ceremony
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This time the employees involved in the budget making process will have to remain in lock-in for a week. In a way, they are kept under house arrest. During this time these people will be completely cut off from the outside world. These people are allowed to meet their family members and friends only after the Finance Minister presents the budget in Parliament. Its purpose is to keep the budget confidential. The press is also located inside the North Block for printing the budget. Not only in India, but in many countries of the world, budget making officers are kept in ‘lock in’.
mobile-off internet
Under Article 112 of the Indian Constitution, the Finance Minister has to present the budget in the Parliament every year. To keep it a secret, around 100 employees involved in the budget-making process have to stay away from their families for a week. During this, they are not allowed to use mobile, email, phone and internet. That is, they remain completely cut off from the outside world. The intelligence department keeps an eye on them continuously. Not only in India, officials in many countries of the world have to go through such a process.
The budget making process in the country is kept completely secret. The entry of the media in the Finance Ministry stops a month before the budget is made. Leakage of confidential information related to the budget can harm the country’s economy. Who will be involved in the budget making process is not disclosed. After thorough investigation, about 100 officers and employees are engaged for this work. They can be kept at a secret place in North Block.
intelligence watch
According to experts, the people who finalize the budget cannot keep mobiles, nor are they allowed to talk at their home. There is only one landline phone in the printing room. Only incoming facility is available on this. Can’t make calls from it. In case of emergency, one can talk at home, but a man from the Intelligence Department is always alert there to listen to him. A team of doctors is also present there so that in case of ill health of any employee, he can be treated.
Intelligence Bureau officials keep a close watch on the Ministry of Finance at all times during the budget. The phones of key people associated with the budget are also tapped. Every person coming and going in the Ministry of Finance is closely monitored through CCTV. All employees live within the range of CCTV cameras. If a printing worker comes out of the secret room in an emergency, then a man from the Intelligence Department and the Delhi Police is always with him. The food served to the people working in the printing press of the Ministry of Finance is also thoroughly scrutinised.
Budget will come in digital form
Like the last two times, this time also the budget will be presented in digital form. But earlier when the budget documents were printed, earlier the IB used to keep an eye on the paper attached to it. The paper used in budget documents used to reach the printing presses of the Finance Ministry under the supervision of Intelligence Department officials. There was a tight security arrangement till its printing, packaging and reaching the Parliament. The budget is presented in the Lok Sabha at 11 am. Only after this the officers and employees present in the basement of North Block are allowed to go home.
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