The Finance Department of Jharkhand plays a pivotal role in managing the state’s finances, ensuring fiscal discipline, and steering economic growth. It functions as the custodian of the state’s consolidated fund, contingency fund, and public account, overseeing all financial transactions of the government.
The department’s primary responsibilities include formulating the state budget, allocating funds to various departments, and monitoring expenditure to ensure efficient and effective utilization of resources. The annual budget is a crucial document that outlines the government’s revenue projections, planned expenditures across various sectors like education, health, infrastructure, and social welfare, and strategies for resource mobilization. The Finance Department meticulously scrutinizes departmental proposals, ensuring alignment with the state’s overall development goals and fiscal prudence.
Beyond budget formulation, the department manages the state’s debt and investments. Prudent debt management is critical for maintaining fiscal stability and ensuring long-term sustainability. The Finance Department constantly monitors debt levels, explores avenues for debt restructuring, and seeks to obtain loans on favorable terms. Investment management involves strategically deploying surplus funds to generate revenue and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Tax collection and revenue generation are also key functions. The Finance Department oversees the collection of various taxes, including commercial taxes, excise duty, and stamp duty and registration fees. It constantly seeks to improve tax administration, simplify procedures, and curb tax evasion to augment state revenue. This includes leveraging technology for better tax compliance and implementing reforms to broaden the tax base.
Furthermore, the department plays a crucial role in implementing financial reforms and promoting good governance. This involves strengthening internal controls, enhancing transparency in financial transactions, and promoting accountability at all levels. The department actively works towards streamlining financial processes, adopting best practices in public financial management, and ensuring that public funds are utilized in a fair and transparent manner.
The Finance Department is headed by the Finance Minister, who is assisted by a team of senior officials, including the Principal Secretary/Secretary, Finance. The department is organized into various divisions, each responsible for specific areas such as budget, taxation, expenditure control, and debt management. The Controller General of Accounts (CGA) plays a crucial role in maintaining accounts and conducting audits.
In recent years, the Jharkhand Finance Department has focused on leveraging technology for improved financial management. This includes implementing e-governance initiatives, digitizing records, and utilizing data analytics to improve decision-making. The focus is on creating a robust and transparent financial system that supports the state’s development agenda and ensures that the benefits of economic growth reach all sections of society.