India, July 19 -- The Madhya Pradesh Government has unleashed a comprehensive austerity drive across all departments, corporations, boards and Government institutions, imposing stringent curbs on expenditure as the state grapples with a cumulative debt burden exceeding Rs 5 lakh crore - a fiscal reality that has compelled the administration to undertake what officials describe as one of the most far-reaching belt-tightening exercises in recent memory.

The Finance Department has issued detailed guidelines for the financial year 2026-27, mandating immediate compliance across every tier of the state's administrative machinery. The directives apply uniformly to all Government departments, corporations, nigams, mandals, universities, division...