The state’s finance ministry has asked all government departments to ensure ‘no rush of expenditure in the last month of the year’ and also warned of reduction in the provisions if departments’ expenditure is less than 50 per cent by December.
“…the expenditure of the administrative departments for the year 2025-26 should be allocated appropriately. This should be reviewed every month at the level of the heads of administrative departments and care should be taken to ensure that there is no rush of expenditure in the last month of the year and such information should be given to the controlling authorities,” said a notification issued by the finance department on Monday.
The notification added that if there is any financial irregularity in this regard, the administrative department will be responsible for it. “Also, the provisions of the departments whose expenditure is less than 50% by the end of December 2025 will be reduced in a proportionate manner while preparing the estimates and the entire responsibility will remain with the administrative departments concerned,” it added.
Last week, The Indian Express had reported how rush of expenditure on the last day of the previous financial year resulted in the lapse of Rs 64 crore funds of the tribal development department.
Successive Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports on state finances have highlighted the rush in expenditure during the last quarter by various state departments. “Huge expenditure in the last month of the financial year is inconsistent with prudent financial management and indicates a weak internal control system and lack of budgetary control/management,” the State Finances Audit Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India for the year ended March 31, 2023 had observed.
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