New office, old press: Printing of Budget stays in North Block

WITH JUST a fortnight left for the Budget presentation, it’s not just the fiscal math the finance ministry officials are busy with, but also finalising the location for printing the Budget copies.

- DAMINI NATH & AANCHAL MAGAZINE

While the Ministry of Finance shifted from North Block at Raisina Hill to Kartavya Bhawan, 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 said.

“Senior officials have visited North Block several times to manage the locational hurdle. The transition to Kartavya Bhawan 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.