Yogi Adityanath orders faster budget sanctions, higher spending in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday directed officials to speed up the issuance of financial sanctions and increase spending under the 2026-27 budget, as the first half of the financial year draws to a close. He ordered immediate corrective steps in departments where budget utilisation is below expectations.

At a review meeting attended by state Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Adityanath said 70 per cent of financial sanctions must be issued within the next two months and expenditure of at least 60 per cent of the total allocated budget must be ensured. He said the budget's purpose was not just to allocate money, but to ensure timely use of funds and delivery of benefits to the public.

According to the state government, the Chief Minister reviewed budget provisions, financial sanctions and actual expenditure for the current financial year.

The meeting included a point-by-point review of the functioning and financial progress of 30 major departments that have the highest budget allocations. He asked the finance minister to hold regular meetings with departmental ministers to review expenditure in detail.

Adityanath said any department facing problems with approvals or expenditure because of policy, procedural or technical reasons must be given immediate solutions. He asked the finance department to monitor such issues regularly and send progress updates to the Chief Minister's Office.

He also stressed the need to improve the credit-deposit ratio of banks to strengthen the rural economy. Saying every eligible farmer should get the benefit of the Kisan Credit Card, he directed officials to carry out village-wise and farmer-wise mapping to identify eligible farmers and connect them with banking facilities.

He also asked officials to prepare a framework for events such as the Rural Credit Conclave to improve credit flow in rural areas and make the banking system more effective.

On local products and crafts, the Chief Minister directed the MSME Department to undertake branding and wide promotion of the state's GI-tagged products. He said an effective strategy should be put in place to take the identity of Uttar Pradesh's local products to domestic and global markets.

Adityanath said there would be no compromise on quality or timeliness in public welfare schemes and development projects. He directed that responsibility be fixed on the agency concerned and the officials responsible in cases of unnecessary delay or poor-quality work.

During the review of centrally assisted schemes, he asked departments to ensure effective coordination in matters related to the receipt of central funds. He also told departmental ministers to speak directly to their central counterparts to resolve issues related to pending funds and approvals so that the progress of such schemes is not affected.

The Chief Minister also directed all heads of departments and senior officials to visit the field regularly to review development works and ensure immediate corrective action wherever progress is slow.

Summing up his position, Adityanath said departments must meet their targets in the rest of the financial year.

He added, "There will be no shortage of funds for schemes related to development and public welfare. However, it is the responsibility of the concerned departments to ensure the effective, transparent, and timely utilisation of the available budget."