West Bengal Government Ends Physical Submission of Salary, Pension Bills from May 2025
In a significant stride towards complete digitization of government financial operations, the West Bengal government has announced the discontinuation of physical submission of certain salary and monthly pension bills to the Accountant General, West Bengal (AGWB).
This new directive, effective from May 2025 onwards, marks a crucial step in the Finance Department's ongoing e-governance initiatives aimed at modernizing the state's financial administration.
The decision, formalized through Order No. 1635-F(Y) dated May 6, 2025, from the Finance Department, Audit Branch (Group T), highlights the government's commitment to phasing out traditional paper-based processes.
For some time, the transition to digitized submission of bills and vouchers for accounting and auditing purposes has been under active consideration. After careful review, the Governor has approved this phased implementation, starting with a crucial segment of government finances.
Key Changes for Salary and Pension Bill Submissions
Under the new order, several key changes will be implemented for various financial offices and departments:
- 1. Exclusion of Salary Bills by Pay & Accounts Offices and Treasuries: From May 2025, Pay & Accounts Offices and Treasuries will no longer be required to include hard copies of Salary (including Arrear Salary) bills prepared in TR-18 form under detail Head “01” during their physical submission of monthly accounts to the AGWB. This means a significant reduction in the volume of physical paperwork handled by these offices.
- 2. Discontinuation of Physical Pension Bill Submission: Similarly, Pension disbursing Treasuries are now exempt from submitting hard copies of pension bills physically to the AGWB along with their monthly accounts, starting from May 2025. Consequently, these treasuries have been advised to stop printing pension bills from the same month, further promoting a paperless environment.
- 3. Continued Digital Data Transmission: It's important to note that the existing seamless digital transmission of relevant data for both salary and pension categories will continue uninterrupted. The data flow between the AGWB middleware and WBIFMS servers, which is already in practice, will remain operational, ensuring that financial information is still accurately and efficiently transferred.
- 4. DDOs to Continue Physical Submission to Treasuries (For Now): During this transitional phase, Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) will still be required to physically submit Salary (including Arrear Salary) bills prepared in TR-18 form under detail Head 01 to their respective Treasuries for processing. This is designated as an additional backup measure to ensure smooth operations during the transition. Once these bills are approved, they are to be preserved in the concerned Pay & Accounts Offices and Treasuries until further instructions are issued by the Finance Department.
- 5. Modification of WBTR-2005: To accommodate these changes, the relevant provisions of the West Bengal Treasury Rules (WBTR-2005) have been modified to reflect the new digitized processes. This ensures that the legal and procedural frameworks are in alignment with the government's digital transformation agenda.
This move is a testament to the West Bengal government's dedication to enhancing efficiency, transparency, and accountability within its financial administration through digital means. The phased approach aims to ensure a smooth transition while minimizing disruption to critical operations.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: When will the new rule for discontinuing physical bill submissions come into effect? A1: The new rule will be effective from May 2025 onwards.
Q2: Which types of bills are affected by this new order? A2: This order primarily affects Salary (including Arrear Salary) bills prepared in TR-18 form under detail Head “01” and monthly Pension bills.
Q3: Will Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) still submit physical bills? A3: Yes, for the time being, DDOs will continue to submit physical Salary (including Arrear Salary) bills to Treasuries for processing, as an interim backup measure.
Q4: How will the Accountant General's office receive bill data if physical submission is stopped? A4: The seamless digital transmission of data between the AGWB middleware and WBIFMS servers, which is already in place, will continue to provide the necessary information.
