Maharashtra sets strict deadlines for 2027–28 Budget Estimates, makes digital submissions mandatory

The Maharashtra Finance Department has issued a detailed administrative circular setting strict deadlines for preparing the Budget Estimates for 2027ndash28 and Revised Estimates for 2026ndash27 emphasising digital compliance financial discipline and alignment with the statersquos longterm development plansThe circular issued late Monday evening mandates the use of digital platforms including the Budget Estimation Allocation and Monitoring System BEAMS and the Maharashtra Plan Schemes Information Management System MPSIMS for budgetrelated submissionsThe department has warned that estimates from departments failing to meet the stipulated deadlines and digital documentation requirements could be excluded from official state budget publicationsFinance Department sets staggered deadlinesThe government has established a schedule for administrative departments and controlling officers to ensure that budget proposals are compiled and submitted before the Budget is presented to the state legislatureControlling officers must submit estimates of revenue and capital receipts mandatory expenditure for 2027ndash28 and revised estimates for 2026ndash27 based on actual expenditure for the first four months by October 16 2026 Administrative departments must submit the consolidated estimates to the Finance Department by October 30 2026Departments have been given until December 4 2026 to submit Part I and Part II proposals for new items of mandatory expenditure along with districtwise details Programme expenditure proposals and new items in Forms E F and G must be submitted by the second week of January 2027 while revised estimates based on nine months of actual expenditure and consolidated statements are due by January 29 2027The staggered schedule is intended to reduce administrative delays and ensure timely preparation of the state budgetDigital platforms made mandatoryThe circular requires all budget data to be processed electronically through designated government platforms to improve accuracy and reduce duplicationAll controlling officers and drawing and disbursing officers DDOs must feed mandatory and program estimates directly via the eBudget estimation module on the BEAMS live mode followed by physical submission of systemgenerated prints to the Finance Department All Centrally Sponsored Schemes CSS and state schemes must update their scheme profiles including Unique Scheme Codes and CentralState sharing ratios via the MPSIMS portal and comply with the System for Integrated Quick Transfers SNA SPARSH fund flow mechanism the circular saidDepartments have also been directed to ensure that scheme details and fundingsharing ratios are updated on the designated portalBudget discipline stressed amid debt concernsThe circular comes as Maharashtra faces pressure from rising public debt administrative expenditure and the need to keep revenue and fiscal deficits within prescribed limits under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management ActThe statersquos 2026ndash27 Budget estimated public debt at Rs 1102 lakh crore The revenue deficit was projected at 07 per cent of gross state domestic product GSDP or Rs 40552 crore while the fiscal deficit was estimated at 28 per cent of GSDP or Rs 150491 crore The cost of servicing debt was projected to reach Rs 70055 croreThe Finance Department reiterated that expenditure exceeding approved grants would constitute a budget irregularity Controlling officers found responsible for unauthorised overspending could face disciplinary action adverse confidential reports or withholding of incrementsBudget allocations linked to Viksit Maharashtra 2030The circular directs departments to align regular budget demands and resource allocations for 2027ndash28 through 2029ndash30 with the Viksit Maharashtra Action Plan 2030The framework supports the statersquos stated ambition of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030 and contributing to Indiarsquos broader goal of a USD 5 trillion economy by 2047Departments have also been instructed to book expenditure on outsourced and contractual personnel under the designated object head 10 OutsourcedContractual Services in accordance with existing guidelinesIn addition administrative departments must submit expenditure breakdowns relating to women girls children and transgender groups to the Outcome Budget Branch by January 2027With inputs from IANS