New Delhi: Delhi govt departments will have to think twice before asking for more money without demonstrating a realistic requirement for expenses. The finance department has flagged a pattern of departments seeking supplementary grants and re-appropriation funds, despite failing to utilise their original allocations.“There have been instances when supplementary demands for grants were taken by the departments to incur expenditure on certain schemes/sub-schemes…. but the actual expenditure incurred was less than the original budget estimates for the financial year. The audit has also pointed towards unnecessary supplementary/re-appropriation without realistic assessment of the budget,” a budget circular issued by the finance department said.In simple terms, the finance department wants other departments to budget according to their actual spending capacity, rather than seeking a large allocation only to later leave the money unused.“The wide variations between the original budget estimates and the actual expenditure lead to an obvious conclusion that the departments have not been able to properly anticipate/assess and project a realistic requirement of funds…. The department will ensure that the entire funds, so projected, are realistic and will be utilised during the financial year…. Unrealistic assessment of funds is not conducive to a proper budgeting system and it invites adverse comments from audit,” the finance department said.The warning has come when Delhi has started preparing its revised estimates for 2026-27 and the budget for 2027-28.The finance department has also asked departments to plan better for centrally sponsored schemes, rather than creating budget heads only after money is released by Centre. The departments have been told to make provision for such schemes in their budgets in advance so that implementation of schemes are not delayed.Govt has also made it clear that a department’s budget must tell the whole story of its spending, rather than covering only the department’s headquarters. Budgets will have to include the requirements of subordinate offices, autonomous bodies and grantee institutions under a department’s administrative control and accordingly heads of departments have been asked to collect and assess their requirements and submit a consolidated proposal.The exercise is aimed at planning how Delhi govt spends for the remainder of 2026-27 and the money will be allocated across departments in 2027-28.
