Overview
- The Finance Department issued Government Order No. 198-F on Friday, May 22, 2026, and its austerity measures took effect immediately across all J&K departments and agencies.
- The order imposes a blanket ban on official dinners, lunches, receptions and hospitality events except those hosted by the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister and bars foreign travel without prior Finance approval.
- Domestic travel is limited to economy class regardless of entitlement and purchase of new government vehicles is discouraged with any replacements requiring Finance concurrence and a mandatory fleet reduction against condemned vehicles.
- The directive halts creation of new posts, asks departments to identify long-vacant positions for surrender, restricts consultants and contract hires, and bars new office rentals and routine furniture purchases without Finance sign-off.
- Operational reforms include a ‘digital-first’ push to cut paper and use videoconferencing, strict limits on AC/generator/lighting and vehicle use, mandatory auctioning of condemned assets for revenue, and regular compliance reports to the Finance Department.