The Finance Ministry on Wednesday imposed spending restrictions on various ministries and departments in view of revenue constraints caused by the COVID-19 crisis.
Few ministries and departments like health and family welfare, pharma, food and public distribution and AYUSH will get funds as per the Budget, while others like fertilizer, post, road transport, petroleum, commerce and coal will face spending cuts.
“The existing guidelines for expenditure control have been reviewed. Keeping in view the present situation arising out of COVID-19 and the consequential lockdown, it is expected that the cash position of the Government may be stressed in the first quarter of 2020-21,” an office memorandum issued by the finance ministry said.
Considering this, it is essential to regulate the government expenditure and fix the Quarterly Expenditure Plan (QEP) or Monthly Expenditure Plan (MEP) of specific ministry or department, it said.
