New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- The Delhi government has begun preparations for the 2027-28 Budget while undertaking a review of spending projections for the ongoing financial year, with all departments directed to submit their estimates to the Finance Department by October 12.

The Finance Department has issued guidelines for preparing Revised Estimates (RE) for 2026-27 and Budget Estimates (BE) for 2027-28. The proposals are to be prepared in the prescribed formats and in accordance with the General Financial Rules, 2017.

Along with the estimates, departments can submit proposals related to schemes, programmes and projects to the Director (Planning). The Finance Department has scheduled pre-Budget and RE meetings from the last week of October, with individual dates and timings to be communicated separately.

The government has emphasised that departments should base their projections on a realistic assessment of the funds they are likely to require and spend during the financial year. The directive comes against the backdrop of instances where departments sought additional funds despite spending less than their original allocations. The Finance Department, citing audit observations, also flagged cases of supplementary demands and re-appropriation of funds being made without adequate assessment of actual requirements. The circular noted that there had also been instances where departments sought re-appropriation despite having the capacity to utilise their original budget allocations. In other cases, expenditure at the end of the financial year was either higher or lower than the amount originally provided in the Budget.

The departments have consequently been asked to ensure that the amounts projected in both the revised and upcoming budget estimates are realistic and capable of being utilised within the respective financial year.

Before forwarding their proposals, departments will also have to get them scrutinised by their respective Integrated Financial Advisers (IFAs).

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.