The Tripura festival grant has been increased by Rs 300 for several categories of government employees, workers, pensioners and other eligible beneficiaries ahead of Durga Puja. The state government has allocated Rs 47.16 crore for the grant in the 2026-27 financial year.
Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy announced the revised benefits at a press conference at the Civil Secretariat in Agartala on September 23. The government has also increased the interest-free Festival Advance, with around Rs 183.77 crore earmarked for the scheme.
Tripura festival grant reaches 2.34 lakh beneficiaries
The revised Tripura festival grant will benefit 2,34,417 employees, workers, pensioners and family pensioners across the state. This includes 1,48,501 employees and workers and 85,916 pensioners and family pensioners.
The government has raised the grant by Rs 300 across eligible categories. Group C and Group D employees, along with eligible daily-rated workers, will now receive Rs 2,400, compared with Rs 2,100 earlier.
Pensioners, family pensioners and priests of government-run temples will also receive Rs 2,400. Meanwhile, eligible part-time, contractual and casual workers will receive Rs 2,610, up from Rs 2,310.
Revised Tripura festival grant covers several groups
The revised Tripura festival grant also covers Anganwadi workers and helpers, Home Guards, special police officers and other eligible workers. These categories will receive Rs 2,610 under the revised rates, according to reports on the government announcement.
Part-time and irregular pump operators under the Public Works Department’s Drinking Water and Sanitation wing, as well as eligible pump operators under the Rural Development and Panchayat Department, will receive Rs 1,350. Their earlier grant was Rs 1,050.
The government has made an additional allocation of about Rs 6.14 crore to meet the increased grant requirement. Eligible beneficiaries can claim the benefit for one designated festival in a financial year.
Festival grant available for multiple festivals
The eligible festivals include Durga Puja, Christmas, Garia Puja, Buddha Purnima, Eid-Uz-Zuha, Bengali New Year, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Guru Nanak’s Birthday and Mahavir Jayanti.
However, beneficiaries can claim the grant only once during the financial year. Employees and workers do not need to submit an online application for the Festival Grant, while departments will determine eligibility for personnel working under Central schemes.
Tripura festival grant comes with bigger advance
Alongside the Tripura festival grant, the state has substantially increased the interest-free Festival Advance for eligible employees and workers.
Nearly one lakh state government employees and other eligible workers are expected to benefit. The government has earmarked around Rs 183.77 crore for the advance in 2026-27.
Regular Group A, B, C and D employees will now be eligible for an interest-free advance of Rs 20,000. Eligible fixed-pay recruits and daily-rated workers under Groups C and D will also receive the same amount.
The revised amount marks a significant increase from the rates that had remained applicable since 2017-18. Earlier, eligible categories received advances ranging between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000.
Online process set for festival advance
For the Festival Advance, eligible employees must submit applications through the NextGen HRMS portal. The Finance Department has also issued standard operating procedures for bill processing by Drawing and Disbursing Officers.
For the first time under the revised structure, Anganwadi workers and helpers and Home Guards will receive an interest-free advance of Rs 5,000 each. ASHA workers paid through the National Health Mission will be eligible for Rs 2,000.
The Finance Department issued the relevant memorandum on September 21, while the enhanced benefits were announced two days later. The measures come as Tripura prepares for the festive season and seeks to provide additional financial support to eligible workers and pensioners.
Tripura festival grant boosts festive support
The Tripura festival grant and revised Festival Advance together expand financial assistance for a broad group of state employees, workers and pensioners before Durga Puja.
The grant allocation of Rs 47.16 crore will cover more than 2.34 lakh beneficiaries, while the separate Rs 183.77 crore provision will support the enhanced interest-free advance. The revised rates therefore mark a significant change in Tripura’s festival-related employee benefits for 2026-27.
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