The Tripura government’s move to ease financial norms in order to expedite tender finalization and payments has been met with praise from various sectors. With the introduction of the Eighth Amendment to the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPR), 2019, the state is set to witness a significant improvement in the execution of developmental projects and government procurement processes.
One of the key amendments includes increasing the procurement limit without tender from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000, allowing for faster decision-making based on self-certification by competent authorities. This change is expected to streamline small value purchases and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Furthermore, the amendment aligns thresholds for procurement through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) with GFR 2017 norms, enabling departments to make direct online purchases up to Rs. 50,000 from qualified GeM sellers.
For purchases between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 10 lakh, departments must choose the lowest-priced seller from at least three different manufacturers. In cases where procurements exceed Rs. 10 lakh, competitive online bidding or reverse auctions through GeM are now mandatory. Additionally, the financial ceilings for various purchase committees have been revised to expedite decision-making processes.
Another significant change is the empowerment of Secretaries in-Charge of major departments to approve proforma bills for advance payments to government organizations and PSUs without prior concurrence from the Finance Department. However, for private entities, Finance Department concurrence remains mandatory.
These reforms are expected to enhance administrative efficiency, improve fund utilization, and ensure timely completion of state development projects. The Delegation of Financial Powers (Eighth Amendment) Rules, Tripura, 2025, officially came into effect on June 19, 2025, signaling a new era of streamlined financial processes in the state.
