The 36th Conference of State Finance Secretaries, held on October 27, 2026, was attended by finance officials from various states and union territories. The Governor of Reserve Bank of India emphasized the need for maintaining quality expenditure and adopting prudent borrowing strategies.
The Conference, themed 'Role of Quality of Expenditure, Effective Cash and Prudent Debt Management in Enhancing States’ Fiscal Sustainability', was organized by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on October 27, 2026. The gathering included the Finance Secretaries from 27 States and three Union Territories, as well as senior officials from various ministries such as Ministry of Finance, Government of India, Controller General of Accounts, and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
The Governor of RBI inaugurated the Conference. In his address to the participants, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the quality of expenditure for ensuring long-term fiscal health of the states. He also stressed the necessity of adopting prudent borrowing strategies and efficient cash management practices.
Furthermore, the Governor recommended that states should onboard onto the Unified Lending Interface (ULI) and utilize Programmable Central Bank Digital Currency (P-CBDC) for Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). He also advised effective use of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) forum.
During the Conference, a Booklet titled ‘Compendium on Cash and Debt Management for State Governments’ was released by the Governor. This document summarizes relevant concepts, operational processes, and good cash and debt management practices in a concise and accessible format.
Source:
Reserve Bank of India
