Jagdalpur. The Chhattisgarh government has taken a strict and important decision to maintain financial discipline and prevent the rush to spend the budget at the end of the financial year, i.e., March. According to new directives issued by the Finance Department, a complete ban has been imposed on the purchase of any new material or the issuance of purchase orders from the 2025-26 budget provisions after February 15, 2026. The primary objective of this order is to maintain the state's financial situation.
The government has taken this step because it has often been observed that in the final months of the financial year, various departments hastily purchase materials that are not immediately needed, simply to prevent budgetary expenditure. This trend leads to unnecessary blockage of government funds, which the Finance Department has deemed inappropriate for the government's interests. Under the new rules, departments are not only prohibited from placing new orders after February 15th, but are also mandated to ensure that all orders placed before February 15th are paid by March 15th, 2026. However, keeping in mind public interest and essential services, the government has exempted certain critical items from this restriction. Purchases of basic necessities such as food, clothing, and medicines for prisons, government hospitals, hostels, and ashrams will continue uninterrupted. Similarly, there will be no restrictions on the supply of nutritional food to children in Anganwadi centers and their transportation. Exemptions have also been granted for central government schemes, foreign-aided projects, and NABARD and SIDBI-funded works. Furthermore, construction agencies such as the Public Works Department and Forest Department will be permitted to purchase materials for the next one month for ongoing projects. Petrol, diesel, vehicle repairs, and small contingencies up to ₹5,000 will also be exempted.
Taking strict administrative measures, the department has clarified that the financial powers granted to officials for purchases after February 15th will be suspended by this order, and if a purchase is absolutely necessary in any special circumstances, special permission will be required from the Finance Department. This restriction will not apply to the Legislative Assembly Secretariat, Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister's residence and Secretariat, the High Court, and subordinate courts.