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1950 Union Budget: The documents of the Union Budget had leaked from the Rashtrapati Bhavan press when they were sent for printing
When the union budget was leaked in 1950, the printing of the documents took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan press on Minto Road. (Courtesy: Reuters)
Union Budget History: Union Budget 2025-26 is set to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament on February 1.
As per the tradition, the Halwa Ceremony has taken place which marks the beginning of the lock-in period after which the budget goes for printing in the basement of the North Block in Delhi.
Inside the North Block’s basement is the government press along with the home ministry and the ministry of finance.
However, the budget was not always printed in the North Block. So what triggered this change?
The Union Budget Leak Of 1950
In 1950, one of the most unexpected things happened when the Union Budget got leaked from the Rashtrapati Bhavan press which was on Minto Road at that time. The budget used to get printed at the same press for years and its confidentiality was never breached.
However, in 1950 the papers got leaked and the government decided to change the place of printing the country’s most important financial document to a more secure location.
At the time of the leak, John Mathai was the finance minister of the country and he was accused of serving the interests of powerful people because of the leak.
After presenting the Union Budget, the then finance minister submitted his resignation in protest against the Planning Commission. In 1980, the place where the budget gets printed once again changed and it was shifted to the current location in the North Block.
What Is ‘Lock-In’ Period?
The printing process of the budget was made more secure and confidential with time.
Its security was also enhanced by the strict “lock-in” period during which the officials who are working on the budget remain in isolation and have no contact with the outside world to ensure the document’s secrecy.
The officials are also not allowed to use their phones and can leave only after the finance minister ends the presentation of the Union Budget in parliament.
