Departments told to reduce unproductive revenue expenditure, departments told

GUWAHATI: In the run-up to the preparations for the State Annual Budget for the financial year 2024-25, the State Finance Department told all the departments to keep in mind to cut unproductive revenue expenditures while making their budget proposals. This, the Finance Department feels, is a must to maintain a proper revenue balance.

The preparations for the annual budget for the financial year 2024-25 are currently underway. The Finance Department has asked all the administrative departments to submit their budget proposals by January 12. The Budget Session is supposed to start on February 5.

The Finance Department issued some guidelines to all additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioner-secretaries, secretaries, all heads of departments, and principal secretaries of BTR, NCHAC (North Cachar Hill Autonomous Council), and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) to prepare their budget proposals carefully.

The guidelines are that the budgeting process for FY 2024-25 will also see substantial changes that are aimed at improving budget controls, increasing transparency, etc., both on the receipts side as well as on the expenditure side. Some of the key points of the budgeting process for FY 2024-25 are:

(1) The budget for FY 2024-25 is scheduled to be presented in electronic format.

(2) In order to maintain a proper revenue balance, it is proposed that unproductive revenue expenditure be curtailed. While preparing 2024-25 budget estimates, due care is to be taken by the DDOs, Heads of Departments, and Secretaries of the Administrative Departments to prepare the same on a realistic basis so that there is a reasonable relationship between the budget estimates of 2024-25, the revised estimates of 2023-24, and the actuals of the financial year 2022-23.

(3) Administrative departments are required to submit a 'Quarter-wise Expenditure Plan' against each Head of Account, though it is not the maximum limit of expenditure. However, it is to be noted that not more than 25% will be permitted to be spent in the last quarter of the year. 25% quarterly limit is applicable only to the Detail Heads 02-Wages, 03-Travel Expenses', '04-Office Expenses (all sub-detail heads except electricity and water charges)' and '06-Rent, Rates, and Taxes'.

(4) The expenditure should be suitably classified, wherever required, under the SDG (sustainable development goal), gender and child/girl child, elderly, resilience, Divyang and green budget categories.

Also Read:  Additional Chief Secretary Avinash Purushottam Das Joshi promoted

Also Watch: