Jharkhand's Finance and Commercial Tax Minister Radhakrishna Kishore on Wednesday emphasized the need for skilled management to improve education and employment opportunities in the state. Speaking at a press conference held at the Soochna Bhawan auditorium, he highlighted the importance of transparent financial management and better coordination among departments to strengthen the state’s economic foundation.

Despite the impact of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on revenue collection, the minister noted that the efforts made have been satisfactory. In the financial year 2023–24, revenue collection stood at ₹92,189.10 crore against a target of ₹1,06,999.57 crore—achieving 86.16% of the goal. Including non-tax revenue, the state achieved ₹1,03,469.82 crore, which is 80.27% of the total budget estimate.

He informed that under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, all departments have been directed to review revenue collection every three months starting in the 2025–26 fiscal year. The minister himself will review it biannually. All divisions of the state will be visited, and specific guidance and assistance will be provided to those lagging behind.

Department-Wise Revenue Performance

According to the Commercial Tax Department, in FY 2024–25, the department has collected ₹22,292.25 crore against a target of ₹26,000 crore—85.74% of the annual target. For FY 2025–26, the revenue collection target has been set at ₹26,500 crore.

Under SGST, ₹14,210.10 crore was collected against the target of ₹15,375 crore—92.42% of the target. Under VAT, ₹6,618.51 crore was collected against a target of ₹9,124 crore, amounting to 72.54%.

Remarkably, under the Profession Tax Act, the state exceeded its annual target, collecting ₹102.40 crore against a goal of ₹88 crore—116.36% of the target.

Similarly, under the Jharkhand Electricity Duty (JED), ₹1,361.24 crore was collected against a target of ₹1,413 crore—96.34%. For FY 2025–26, the target under electricity duty has been raised to ₹1,600 crore.

Focus on Reform and Transparency

The minister stated that a thorough review is being conducted on the funds parked in Personal Ledger (PL) Accounts since 2010, which is considered inappropriate. He stressed that financial discipline and transparency are top priorities. Funding for the Maiyan Samman Yojana has been secured, and officials have been instructed to allocate funds to districts by the end of April or by May 7 at the latest to ensure that development work is not disrupted.

Minister Kishore assured that the government will take all necessary steps to further strengthen the state’s financial structure and ensure smooth execution of developmental projects.