Hon’ble Finance Minister of Punjab, Sardar Harpal Singh Cheema, launched the Unified Sanction Management System (USMS), a digital platform designed to streamline the processing of administrative, technical, and financial sanctions while enabling seamless integration with the State’s payment systems.
The e-Sanction Module, developed by the Department of Treasuries and Accounts in collaboration with NIC, replaces the conventional paper-based sanction process with a fully digital workflow. The initiative aims to enhance efficiency, transparency, accountability, and financial discipline across government departments.
Launched at the Punjab Municipal Bhawan in Chandigarh, the platform facilitates the online issuance of sanctions and their automatic integration with the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) for bill generation and payment processing. By creating a unified digital workflow, the system significantly reduces manual intervention and expedites the sanctioning process.
A key feature of USMS is its comprehensive audit trail mechanism. Every stage of sanction processing is digitally recorded with timestamps, user credentials, and approval hierarchies, ensuring complete traceability and accountability. The platform also validates budget availability before sanctions are issued, helping departments avoid excess expenditure and ensuring adherence to approved budget provisions.
The system introduces standardized sanction formats and incorporates automated validation checks to minimize procedural inconsistencies and clerical errors related to account heads, scheme mapping, and beneficiary details. These measures are expected to improve the accuracy and reliability of financial transactions across departments.
The initiative has been developed in accordance with the Government of India’s financial reform guidelines under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme 2026–27. The successful implementation of the system is expected to make Punjab eligible for an incentive of ₹50 crore under the scheme while strengthening end-to-end monitoring of government sanctions.
