Hemant Soren Reviews Finance, Commercial Tax Departments; Stresses Better Budget Management and Revenue Growth

Ranchi: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday chaired a high-level review meeting with officials of the Finance and Commercial Tax departments at the Jharkhand Ministry, focusing on the state’s financial health, revenue collection and effective implementation of budgetary provisions.

During the meeting, officials presented a detailed review of the state’s income and expenditure, budget estimates, revenue targets, establishment expenditure, capital receipts and grants received from the Central government. The Chief Minister stressed the need for efficient financial management and optimum use of available resources to ensure faster implementation of development schemes.

A comprehensive assessment of ongoing government projects and welfare programmes was also carried out. Discussions focused on the pace of expenditure, target achievements and challenges being faced in implementation.

Jharkhand Performing Strongly in Mining Revenue

Officials informed the Chief Minister that Jharkhand’s mining revenue position remains stronger than neighbouring states such as Odisha and Chhattisgarh. They attributed the improvement to systematic management of mineral resources, transparent policies and better monitoring mechanisms.

Expressing satisfaction over the achievement, Hemant Soren directed officials to further strengthen the mining sector by ensuring transparency, curbing illegal mining activities and promoting the use of modern technology in monitoring and management.

Push for Biometric Attendance and E-Governance

The Chief Minister also emphasised wider implementation of biometric systems in government offices to improve transparency and accountability. He instructed departments to strictly enforce biometric attendance and streamline administrative processes through technology-driven governance mechanisms.

Better Coordination Among Departments

Soren asked officials to ensure stronger coordination among departments for smooth execution of government schemes. He said a unified and coordinated approach would not only speed up implementation but also help in better utilisation of resources.

Focus on Revenue Growth in Commercial Tax Department

During the review of the Commercial Tax Department, officials discussed the current status of tax collection, GST compliance, revenue enhancement measures and departmental functioning. Detailed analysis of revenue generated under GST, VAT, professional tax and other state taxes was presented during the meeting.

The Chief Minister directed officials to strengthen monitoring and enforcement systems, encourage voluntary tax compliance and tighten measures against tax evasion. He also stressed the need to use modern technological tools to improve surveillance and tax administration.

Directions for Transparency and Accountability

The meeting also focused on simplifying departmental procedures and making them more transparent and accountable to improve taxpayer convenience and ensure sustained growth in revenue collection.

Officials were instructed to work proactively towards achieving revenue targets and conduct regular progress reviews. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore, Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Development Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh, Finance Secretary Prashant Kumar, Commercial Tax Secretary Amit Kumar and other senior officials.