Rush of expenditure in March, 2026 – Opening of Pay and Accounts Office on Saturdays and Sundays falling in March 2026 to clear the pendency of bills in hand: CGA’s O.M. dated 20.02.2026
F. No.TA-2-03002(03)/1/2021-TA-II/e-5450/47
Ministry of Finance
Department of Expenditure
Office of Controller General of Accounts
Mahalekha Niyantrak Bhawan
E-Block, INA, New Delhi,
Dated 20th February 2026.
OFFICЕ МЕМORANDUM
Subject: Rush of expenditure in March, 2026-reg.
To avoid last-minute rush of expenditure and potential system overload in PFMS during the closing month/days of the financial year 2025–26, owing to the likelihood of a surge in bills towards year-end, it is advised that the following proactive measures be taken to streamline bill payments in March 2026:
- Head of Accounting Organisations of all Ministries/Departments need to ensure smooth clearance of bills in PAOs and monitor daily stock of bills in hand in each PAO. Pr.CCA/CCA/CA(i/c) of Ministries/Departments should consider opening of Pay and Accounts Office on Saturdays and Sundays falling in March 2026 to clear the pendency of bills in hand.
- Engagement and close coordination by Pr.CCA/CCA/CAs within their respective Ministries/ Departments should be ensured. Programme Divisions, Administrative offices, DDOs and other stakeholders may be sensitized and requested to submit bills in a timely manner with in a specific date (say 20th March) by when bills may be submitted in PAOs.
- To avoid system overload during the last hours of the end of FY 2025-26. Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CA(i/c) of Ministries/Departments may also request Programme Divisions in their Ministries/Departments to complete the processing of sanctions expeditiously after taking IFD concurrence, etc., wherever applicable, for expediting onward submission of bills by DDOs to PAOs.
- In the light of the bank holiday falling on the last day of March, i.e. 31 March 2026(Tuesday-Public Holiday), Reserve Bank of India has advised all the Agencу Banks to keep all branches of the banks dealing with Government receipts and payments open for transactions on March 31, 2026. However, it is expected that all types of bills for payments should be processed on time to avoid the last hour rush in the close of financial year 2025-26.
(Tripti Patra Ghosh)
Addl. Controller General of Accounts (A&FR)
To
Pr.CCAs/CCAs/CA(i/c) of Ministries/Departments
Copy for kind information to:
- Addl.CGA(PFMS)/Addl. CGA (CVO)
- FAs of Ministries/Departments
- PPS to CGA
COMMENTS