Bhubaneswar: As the Odisha Assembly elections will be conducted this year, the state government has decided to present the Interim Budget for the financial year 2019-20 to meet the expenditure for first three months the new fiscal.
This was decided at the meeting of Council of Ministers conducted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, here Saturday.
Even though there was no official declaration, sources said that the state government has prepared a budget of over `1.32 lakh crore. But, it will present February 7 a ‘Vote on Account’ (Interim Budget) for the four months (April to July). Accordingly demand and discussions will take place and Appropriation Bill be passed, the source said.
The State government likely to announce new schemes, projects and some important welfare measures to woo the voters as elections are on the anvil. The size of the ‘Vote on Account’ is likely to be nearly `45,000 crore, the sources stated.
The State Cabinet has approved amendments to three recruitment rules. The Odisha Secretariat Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules 2016 has been amended. As per new norms, the experience criteria for promotion from ASO to Section Officer have been reduced to eight years from 12 years.
The experience requirement for promotion to the post of Deputy Secretary from Under Secretary and to Joint Secretary from Deputy Secretary has been reduced to one year from three years. However, there is no provision made for promotion of Joint Secretary rank to Additional Secretary.
Similarly, the Cabinet has approved reconstitution of departmental promotion committee for promotion of Odisha Police service and Armed Police service officials and amendment to government drivers’ recruitment and service conditions rules.
PNN
