Hyderabad: In a move aimed at ending long-standing confusion over fund releases and expenditure, Telangana is preparing to take its budgeting fully digital. By the 2026-27 financial year, the state plans to roll out a comprehensive ‘digital budget’ system that promises sharper transparency, faster decision-making and tighter control over public finances.The initiative seeks to overhaul how budgets are tracked and implemented, addressing a frequent grievance among departments over delays and uncertainty in fund flows. At the heart of the reform is a finance department–developed digital dashboard that will monitor every rupee—from the moment the budget is presented in the assembly to the point of actual spending on the ground. Once operational, the platform will provide all department heads with dedicated login access, allowing them to view real-time information on budget allocations, funds released and pending amounts. Officials believe this will significantly reduce delays caused by the movement of files and procedural bottlenecks, while enabling departments to plan expenditure more accurately and roll out projects and welfare schemes with greater speed. At present, budgetary allocations are announced in a single exercise, while fund releases take place in phases depending on availability and priorities. The digital system will bridge this gap by continuously updating key data points, including sanctioned amounts, funds received and outstanding balances. By offering a live snapshot of fiscal status, the govt hopes to encourage greater financial discipline and minimise delays in fund utilisation, sources said.Greater clarityThe platform will also bring greater clarity to centrally-sponsored schemes by clearly displaying the Centre’s contribution alongside the state’s matching share. In addition, details related to operational expenditure and salary commitments will be available on the dashboard, helping officials take quicker, data-driven decisions while managing departmental finances. Similar digital financial management systems have been introduced in several states and at the Centre over the past decade, including public finance management platforms that track expenditure, payments and outcomes in real time.These systems have been credited with reducing leakages, improving accountability and aligning spending more closely with policy priorities. Telangana’s proposed digital budget aims to build on these experiences, creating an integrated, transparent framework for managing the state’s finances more efficiently.
