Odisha Chief Secretary Orders Monthly Department Reviews to Fast-Track 2025–26 Budget Implementation
Focus on Real-Time Tracking, Reducing Bureaucratic Delays, and Policy Implementation
In a decisive move to enhance administrative efficiency and ensure effective implementation of the 2025–26 state budget, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has directed all departments to conduct monthly reviews of project progress and expenditure. The directive came during a high-level financial review meeting held on Tuesday at Kharavela Bhavan.
The meeting, attended by top bureaucrats, assessed the state’s financial performance for April 2025. The Finance Department reported a significant 35% year-on-year increase in overall expenditure, with program-related spending rising by 66% over April 2024. The review underscored the state’s renewed focus on fiscal discipline, timely execution, and outcomes-driven governance.
Chief Secretary Ahuja emphasized real-time monitoring of fund utilization and urged departments to ensure that new initiatives introduced in the current fiscal year stay on track. “Efficient governance hinges on fiscal discipline and measurable results. Departments must align their efforts with the strategic goals of the 2025–26 budget,” he stated.
A major bottleneck identified was the bureaucratic delay in administrative processes—specifically, the multi-layered file movement system in OSWAS (Odisha State Wide Area Network). Currently, files pass through five to six levels before reaching the Secretary, slowing decision-making. Ahuja proposed capping the file movement to three levels to streamline workflows and improve turnaround time.
Development Commissioner Anu Garg noted that departmental feedback on the proposed administrative reforms is being collected and a final decision will be announced soon.
The review also covered revenue performance, status of policy implementation, and pending operational guidelines for key schemes set to launch in the next quarter. Departments were urged to expedite the finalization of draft policies to avoid delays in rollout.
Preparations for the upcoming first anniversary of the new government—scheduled to begin on June 12—were also discussed. The state is planning a series of events at both state and district levels to showcase achievements and boost public engagement in governance.
The meeting was attended by senior officials including Satyabrata Sahu, ACS (Home, Forest, Environment & Climate Change); Deoranjan Kumar Singh, ACS (Revenue and SRC); Surendra Kumar, ACS (General Administration, Steel & Mines); and Hemant Sharma, ACS (Industries, MSME), among others.
The session concluded with a unified commitment to accelerating policy implementation, optimizing resource use, and delivering better governance outcomes for the people of Odisha.
