State ends 2024-25 fiscal boosted by central funds
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 02 2025: The state government had prioritised fiscal discipline in the Financial Year 2024-25, especially in the last quarter, while at the same time ensuring that committed and developmental spending are prioritised.

As per a release by the Finance Department issued on Tuesday, the financial year opened with an Overdraft of Rs 123 crore and Ways and Means Advance of Rs 248 crore on April 1, 2024.The financial year on March 31, 2025 closed with a Ways and Means Advance of only Rs 23 crore, the lowest amount, availed since the Financial Year 2017-18 .

As part of this fiscal discipline the state has not availed any overdraft in the months of February and March, 2025 .

Further, Ways and Means Advance was also availed only on three days in March 2025, it added.

The release informed that there was no rush of proposals in Finance Department nor of bills in the Treasury on March 31.The Treasury operations could be closed at 9 pm of March 31, which was well within the cut-off time of 12 midnight set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

This could happen due to advance planning and close coordination among all stakeholders in the government.

The total payment made from Treasuries this financial year was Rs 19,075 crore, of which Rs 3,394 crore was in the,month of March 2025.For the month of March 2025, the Capital Expenditure was about Rs 920 crore and the remaining being Revenue Expenditure.

Some of the important releases from Treasuries in March 2025 included- Rs 833 crore for salaries (including 13 months for police), wages, grant-in-aid salaries and arrears of salaries, Rs 382 crore for pensions and other retirement benefits.

Rs 93 crore for General Provident Fund, Rs.820 crore for Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), including state share, Rs 259 crore for Externally Aided Projects, Rs 126 crore for SASCI (Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment), Rs 161 crore for support to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in relief camps, Rs 25 crore for permanent housing for IDPs and Rs 70 crore for security expenses, other than salaries, it highlighted.

The Department referring to receipts from the centre, informed that in March 2025, Rs 1,926 crore of central assistance was received in the form of CSS, SASCI and other central schemes, the highest ever receipt of such assistance in a month.

Additionally, the Union finance minister had recently assured support for Manipur under SASCI.

Rs 1,437 crore was received under SASCI in this financial year, which is the highest receipt ever in a financial year.

60 per cent of the support, amounting to Rs 869 crore was received in March alone.

SASCI funding also included a special funding of Rs 320 crore for clearing liabilities of ongoing and recently completed works of PWD .

In this financial year massive support was received from the central government in different sec.tors.

Rs 217 crore was received from the Ministry of Home Affairs as support for relief and rehabilitation measures for those displaced; Rs 169 crore received as funding for rural housing under PMAY Grameen; around Rs 520 crore received for school education; Rs 305 crore for health; and Rs 458 crore from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

For the first time an additional (fifth) instalment under the National Health Mission, beyond the usual four (four) instalments, was received, it said.

Laying out the plan for the new Financial Year 2025-26, the Department informed that the Manipur Appropriation Act for Vote on Account' Budget of six months for the Financial Year 2025-26 received the assent of the President on March 20.Rationalisation of expenditure, provision of adequate funding or developmental works and necessary push for economic recovery will continue, it maintained.

In the first quarter focus will be given to CSS, EAP and SAS-CI releases, among others, so that the pace of fund flow from the centre can be increased in this financial year.

Rs 270 crore of pension backlog has been cleared in the last one and half months.

Plans are being made to clear all remaining backlog in the next three months.

Regular and timely release of monthly salaries and pensions will continue.

Plans are being finalised so that the monthly salary and pension can be paid by the 1st working day of the month, starting July 2025.A review of liabilities of Departments is being undertaken.

Plans for clearing all verified liabilities will be made, with a transparent process and clear timelines, it further announced.

Comment