Department of Expenditure had issued a D.O. letter to Chief Secretaries of States, as an advisory to states and not a directive, to align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds and millets, in line with the natio...

• D.O. letter dated 09.01.2026 from Secretary, Department of Expenditure (Ministry of Finance) to Chief Secretaries of all States, advising alignment of State bonus over MSP with national priorities of nutritional security, Aatmanirbharta and sustainable agriculture.
• Clarified as advisory, not directive — reflects a centre–state fiscal-federalism touchpoint where the Centre nudges State agricultural pricing behaviour.
• UPSC importance: intersection of MSP regime, crop diversification, edible-oil import dependence, cooperative federalism, and fiscal prudence.