Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has reiterated its ‘No Gift Policy’ for Diwali and other festive occasions, prohibiting all government offices and public sector undertakings (PSUs) from incurring expenditure on gifts and related items.
In a letter dated November 5, 2026, Principal Secretary, Finance Department, Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, directed all departments to strictly adhere to the policy, which has been adopted by the State Government for the second consecutive year.
The directive, addressed to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries and Secretaries of all departments, stated that the State Government had decided to adopt the Office Memorandum issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Government of India, on September 19, 2025.
The Centre’s policy prohibits Ministries, Departments and other organs of the Union Government from incurring expenditure on gifts and related items during Diwali and other festivals.
Following the Centre’s directive, Odisha had adopted the policy last year through a Finance Department letter dated October 17, 2025.
Reiterating the decision for this year, the Finance Department has impressed upon all State Government offices and PSUs to ensure strict compliance with the policy.
