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“This is a transition phase as North Block press is a tried and tested place,” the source said.
With just a fortnight left for the Budget presentation, it’s not just the fiscal math that Finance Ministry officials are busy with. They are also finalising the location for printing the Budget copies. While the Ministry of Finance shifted from North Block at Raisina Hill to the new complex, Kartavya Bhavan, in October last year, it has had to recalibrate plans and fall back on the old printing press facility at North Block amid “significant constraints” for installing it in the new building.
It is learnt that the Ministry of Finance’s printing press at North Block will publish the final copies of the Union Budget 2026-27, to be presented in Parliament on February 1. The quarantine of officials and the printing exercise at this heritage building comes amid the commencement of restoration work for the Yuge Yugeen Bharat National Museum at North Block, an official told The Indian Express.
“Senior officials have visited North Block several times to manage the locational hurdle. The transition to Kartavya Bhavan is not without challenges. The Budget press at the now vacated premises of North Block will be used to print the upcoming Budget,” the official said.
When contacted, sources in the Ministry of Finance said new machines have been procured and installed in Kartavya Bhavan. “Checking the machines and trial printing is underway,” the source said. But given that the Budget printing process involves multiple ministries, departments and personnel, and is a time bound activity, the decision to print the Budget in North Block is “by way of abundant caution”, the sources said.
“This is a transition phase as North Block press is a tried and tested place,” the source said.
A customary halwa ceremony is performed every year before officials involved in the Budget preparation are locked in. Nearly 60 people will be locked in, the sources said. They are the personnel directly associated with the Budget making and printing process. To maintain secrecy, they are cut off from their families with no access to phones or any other device until the presentation of the Budget by the Finance Minister in Parliament.
These personnel can, however, watch television inside. Post-Covid, the lock-in period has reduced to just under a week from 10-12 days earlier as the number of hard copies of the Budget have been reduced. Much of the distribution is online and digital.
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The Budget press, the secure facility where the annual Union Budget is printed, was set to get a makeover with modern and lighter machinery to fit within the space and structural constraints of the new complex at Kartavya Bhavan. The Ministry had floated a tender for the new machinery on September 2, 2025. In a file noting attached with the tender document, a Finance Ministry official said that due to relocation of the Budget press, there was a need to upgrade the printing infrastructure to “meet the time-bound and confidential requirements” of printing Budget documents.
However, the new setup has not become functional in time for the Budget to be printed there. And on the other hand, work on conservation of North Block, before it can be converted into a museum, started around two months ago, sources said. This is expected to be completed within 24 months.
Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More
Aanchal Magazine is a Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, serving as a leading voice on the macroeconomy and fiscal policy. With over 13 years of newsroom experience, she is recognized for her ability to decode complex economic data and government policy for a wider audience. Expertise & Focus Areas: Magazine’s reporting is rooted in "fiscal arithmetic" and economic science. Her work provides critical insights into the financial health of the nation, focusing on: Macroeconomic Policy: Detailed tracking of GDP growth, inflation trends, and central bank policy actions. Fiscal Metrics: Analysis of taxation, revenue collection, and government spending. Labour & Society: Reporting on labour trends and the intersection of economic policy with employment. Her expertise lies in interpreting high-frequency economic indicators to explain the broader trajectory of the Indian economy. Personal Interests: Beyond the world of finance and statistics, Aanchal maintains a deep personal interest in the history of her homeland, Kashmir. In her spare time, she reads extensively about the region's culture and traditions and works to map the complex journeys of displacement associated with it. Find all stories by Aanchal Magazine here ... Read More
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