Central Vista revamp: Future home of Budget Press likely at Kartavya Bhawan 9

Secure printing facility where Budget is printed gained significance after a leak in 1956

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Aug 20, 2026 04:33 AM IST

The Delhi Urban Art Commission in its meeting on July 16 approved a revised plan by the CPWD architect that includes “Budget press added in the ground floor of Kartavya Bhawan 9”, as per the minutes of the meeting.

AS PART of the Central Vista redevelopment, the government is planning to set up the Budget Press, which is the secure printing facility where the annual union Budget is printed, at the under-construction Kartavya Bhawan 9 building, where the Finance Ministry could shift upon completion, said officials.

The Delhi Urban Art Commission in its meeting on July 16 approved a revised plan for the Kartavya Bhawan 8 and 9 project that includes a “Budget press added in the ground floor of Kartavya Bhawan 9”, as per the minutes of the meeting. As part of the redevelopment project, 10 secretariat buildings named Kartavya Bhawan are being constructed along the Central Vista. KB 8 and 9 are under construction on the site of the old Vice-President’s House and Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, which have been demolished, on Maulana Azad Road.

The location of the press, which also prints the Economic Survey, gained significance after the Union Budget of 1956-1957 leaked from the printing press located at Rashtrapati Bhawan. It was then that the Finance Ministry decided that the Budget Press should be located within its own premises at North Block. Last year, when the Finance Ministry moved out of North Block into Kartavya Bhawan 1, the existing machinery could not be shifted due to space and weight constraints. On September 2, 2025, the Finance Ministry floated a tender for new, lighter printing machines to be fit into the space available at KB 1.

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In the file notings, along with the tender document, the Ministry said: “Additionally, the load-bearing capacity of the floors, particularly on the ground level, was found to be inadequate for heavy-duty post-press machines such as paper-cutters and trimmers. These technical limitations necessitated a re-evaluation of the machinery options originally proposed.”

The new press was still under trial at the time for the Union Budget 2026-2027 in February, leading to the Budget being printed in North Block, according to government sources.

The printing of the Budget is carried out under security cover, with the officers concerned being “locked in” at the premises from the time the printing starts till the Finance Minister presents the Budget in Parliament.

The Housing and Urban Affairs and Finance Ministries did not respond to emails requesting comment. However, officials in the ministries said the Budget Press at North Block has been dismantled as the building is being renovated into a museum, and the press at KB 1 has been installed. The officials said though the allotment of the space would be done when the building is complete, the Finance Ministry could move into KB 9, which is under construction at Maulana Azad Road. Keeping that in mind, the Central Public Works Department has designed the building to house the Budget Press, they said.

Damini Nath

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

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