Patna: The government of Bihar has announced that salaries and pensions for February will be paid on time ahead of Holi, while halting non-essential expenditure until March 10 in a bid to maintain fiscal discipline at the close of the financial year.
Speaking in the state assembly, finance minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav said the decision, made under the direction of the chief minister, Nitish Kumar, would benefit around 7,50,000 government employees, including more than 5,85,000 teachers and headmasters. He said there would be no delay in disbursing salaries before the festival.
In a separate order issued on February 27, special secretary Mukesh Kumar Lal directed departments to prioritise “establishment and committed expenditure” and temporarily suspend non-committed payments until March 10. Bills related to salaries, pensions, grants-in-aid and contractual honorariums will be cleared on priority, while other claims will not be accepted during the moratorium.
The directive cites Rules 76 and 177 of the Bihar Treasury Code, 2011, which govern treasury procedures and financial controls. Officials said a surge in bill submissions towards the end of the financial year often complicates scrutiny and risks undermining budgetary discipline. Treasury officers have been instructed to strictly adhere to the code and prevent unnecessary withdrawals. Similar guidance was issued earlier this month.
Payments for construction work, supplies and other contractual obligations are expected to resume after March 10, subject to regular inspection and verification. All departments and district magistrates have been asked to ensure compliance with the order.
The government said the state’s financial position remains stable and that there will be no disruption to salary or pension payments. By curbing non-essential expenditure while ensuring timely disbursals, ministers said they aimed to balance fiscal prudence with support for employees and pensioners ahead of the festival season.
