• Source:Jagran News Network

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed that the financial approval process for government projects in Uttar Pradesh be made faster, simpler, and more transparent to ensure the timely execution of development works. Chairing a detailed review meeting of the Finance Department on Friday, the Chief Minister proposed a major revision in financial approval limits at different levels of government.

Under the new framework suggested by the Chief Minister, projects costing up to Rs 50 crore should be approved at the departmental minister level, an increase from the current Rs 10 crore limit. Projects valued between Rs 50 crore and Rs 150 crore should be cleared at the Finance Minister level, while those exceeding Rs 150 crore would require approval at the Chief Minister level. This, he said, would help avoid delays and accelerate project implementation.

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The Chief Minister also directed all departments to get their annual action plans approved by April 15 without fail. Departments missing the deadline will be reported to the Chief Minister’s Office. He further clarified that if the cost of any project increases by more than 15 per cent, fresh approval with proper justification will be mandatory.

During the review, extensive discussions were held on the state’s fiscal position, budget management, capital expenditure, construction-related provisions, digital financial reforms, treasury systems, pension mechanisms, and departmental innovations. The Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh should emerge as a model state for transparent, accountable, and result-oriented financial management, with a strong focus on timeliness, quality, and digital processes.

He also directed the implementation of a State Guarantee Policy in line with the central government’s framework. Emphasising social responsibility, the Chief Minister instructed that honorariums for low-paid workers such as ASHA and Anganwadi workers, must be credited to their bank accounts on a fixed date every month. In centrally sponsored schemes, the state should release its share on time to prevent delays in payments.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that in 2023-24, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest capital expenditure in the country at Rs 1.10 lakh crore. The state spent more on capital works than the net public debt it raised, reflecting strong fiscal discipline. Uttar Pradesh ranked first nationally by allocating 9.39 per cent of its total expenditure to investment, while fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, and debt-to-GSDP ratios remained within FRBM limits. In 2024-25, the state’s total liabilities declined to 27 per cent of GSDP.

According to NITI Aayog, Uttar Pradesh’s Composite Fiscal Health Index improved from 37 in 2014 to 45.9 in 2023, placing it in the front-runner category. An RBI report also ranked the state second in own tax revenue collection, with an 11.6 per cent national share. Development and health expenditure ratios have consistently remained above the national average.

The Finance Department highlighted several reforms introduced over the past three years, including online budget modules, vendor management systems, cyber treasury operations, fully online bill submissions, GPF reforms, and availability of GPF slips on DigiLocker. Paperless treasury operations are targeted for completion by April 2026.

The Chief Minister also reviewed innovations in the Firms, Societies and Chits Department, noting that all major services have been digitised and public access to records improved through the ‘Sadar’ portal. Uttar Pradesh has also become the first state to integrate with NITI Aayog’s ‘Darpan’ portal.

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On infrastructure maintenance, the Chief Minister pointed out the lack of uniformity in maintenance contracts for government buildings. He directed that a mandatory five-year maintenance clause be included in all new building projects and called for the creation of a corpus fund for maintaining older structures. He also ordered third-party quality audits of major infrastructure projects by institutions such as IITs, NITs, and other government technical bodies.

Concluding the review, the Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh has set new national benchmarks in financial discipline, capital investment, and revenue growth, and the focus now is to further strengthen digital transparency and quality of expenditure to make the state the most reliable in financial administration.


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