Srinagar, Jan 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has issued austerity measures for the financial year 2024-25 to promote fiscal discipline and control unnecessary spending.
The government has capped revenue expenditure for the last quarter of the financial year at 30% of the budget, with March expenditures limited to just 15%. Payments in March will only be allowed for works already completed or goods and services already procured, except for cases related to loans, disaster relief, or compassionate grounds.
Departments have been warned against a last-minute spending rush, particularly in March, to avoid mismanagement and wasteful expenditures.
A 10% cut has been imposed on operational expenses, including telephone bills, POL (Petrol, Oil, and Lubricants), hospitality, and advertisements.
Domestic travel has been restricted to economy class, while international travel requires prior approval from the Finance Department whileas the use of video conferencing for meetings has been encouraged to reduce travel-related costs and promote efficiency.
Seminars, workshops, and conferences outside J&K have been discouraged, and private hotels cannot be used for official meetings. New vehicle purchases are restricted to critical requirements, and replacements for condemned vehicles must reflect a 20% reduction in cost.
Official lunches and dinners are banned unless explicitly approved by the Lieutenant Governor or Chief Minister.
No new posts will be created, and recruitment will only be allowed through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) or the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). Vacant posts that have not been filled for more than two years will be surrendered unless deemed essential by the Finance Department.
The focus of capital expenditure will be on priority projects, while non-essential items such as residential renovations and lump-sum provisions will not receive funding.
The government has made e-tendering and GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal mandatory for all procurement processes to enhance transparency.
Local funds managed by autonomous bodies, universities, and departments must also follow the austerity measures to ensure uniform financial discipline.
Administrative Secretaries have been tasked with ensuring compliance with these measures, and financial advisors must regularly monitor and report adherence to the Finance Department.
The government has emphasized that the austerity measures will optimize resource utilization, avoid unnecessary expenditures, and focus on priority areas that directly benefit the people.
