Secrecy, security shroud Budget papers

North Bloc in the Central Secretariat is the place where budget papers are readied for presentation by the Finance Minister. For the time being the North Bloc is shrouded in secrecy. The ubiquitous smartphone or cell phone is taboo during the period of preparation of the budget papers. The basement of the bloc is where people work on computers preparing the papers for presentation. The computers are devoid of any internet connections. Those who are involved in the preparing and publishing of the papers in the basement include the communication officers, legal officers, Press Information Bureau officials, officials working in the North Bloc and others, none of whom is allowed to go out for the period. All these people work, eat and sleep in the premises without communication with the outside world. Even after the budget papers are finalised and books made out of them, there is tight security to guard the papers. Only 10 minutes before the budget presentation are the papers released. The top secrecy and tight security are to prevent insider trading so that none should benefit by knowing the proposals in advance. But then it is a tradition. This is the North Bloc (Finance Ministry) tradition. The newspapers which eagerly await and give the budget outlines also follow a tradition. Newspaper mangements serve dinner to the staff on that day. Some enterprising employees also enjoy a few drinks on the sly on that day and work late into the night.