New Delhi, April 2 -- In a move aimed at speeding up fund releases under centrally sponsored schemes and reducing delays in utilization, the government has introduced a new fund flow mechanism, allowing ministries greater flexibility in issuing sanctions to states.

According to a government notification, ministries can now adopt a more flexible approach by issuing 'mother sanctions'-consolidated approvals that allow them to sanction funds for multiple centrally sponsored schemes and amounts in one go, instead of issuing separate approvals. These mother sanctions define the drawing limit for states to access central funds.

Under this framework, ministries can issue these sanctions scheme-wise, head-wise, or in a consolidated manner cover...