Tripura festival grant has been increased by the state government ahead of Durga Puja, with Rs 47.16 crore earmarked for the benefit of government employees, workers, pensioners and family pensioners during the 2026-27 financial year. The government has also substantially raised the interest-free Festival Advance, taking the total allocation for the advance to around Rs 183.77 crore.
Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy announced the revised benefits at a press conference at the Civil Secretariat in Agartala on September 23. Finance Secretary P.K. Goel and Additional Secretary Dr Akinchan Sarkar were also present.
Festival grant increased by Rs 300
The Tripura festival grant has been increased by Rs 300 across the eligible categories. Around 2,34,417 people are expected to benefit from the revised grant.
The beneficiary group includes about 1,48,501 employees and workers and 85,916 pensioners and family pensioners. The government has set aside an additional Rs 6.14 crore to meet the cost of the increase.
Under the revised rates, Group C and Group D employees, fixed-pay employees, eligible daily-rated workers, pensioners, family pensioners and priests serving government-run temples will receive Rs 2,400. The amount was Rs 2,100 in 2025-26.
Part-time, contractual and casual workers, along with Anganwadi workers and helpers and Home Guards, will receive Rs 2,610. This is an increase from Rs 2,310 last year.
The grant for part-time and irregular pump operators under the Public Works Department’s Drinking Water and Sanitation wing and part-time pump operators under the Rural Development and Panchayat Department has also risen from Rs 1,050 to Rs 1,350.
One festival benefit in a financial year
The Tripura festival grant is not restricted to Durga Puja alone. Eligible beneficiaries can claim it for any one of nine designated religious and cultural festivals during a financial year.
The listed occasions include Durga Puja, Christmas, Garia Puja, Buddha Purnima, Eid-ul-Zuha, Bengali New Year, Eid-ul-Fitr, Guru Nanak’s Birthday and Mahavir Jayanti. The benefit can be claimed only once in a financial year.
The government has also clarified that beneficiaries do not need to submit an online application for the Festival Grant. For workers engaged under Central government schemes, the concerned administrative departments may decide whether to extend the benefit.
Festival Advance raised sharply
Alongside the grant, Tripura has announced a major increase in the interest-free Festival Advance. Around one lakh state government employees and eligible workers are expected to benefit.
Regular Group A, B, C and D employees, fixed-pay employees and eligible daily-rated Group C and D workers will now receive an interest-free advance of Rs 20,000. Earlier, the advance for these categories ranged between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000.
The revised scheme also expands coverage to categories that were not earlier eligible for the advance. Anganwadi workers and helpers and Home Guards will receive Rs 5,000 each. ASHA workers receiving remuneration under the National Health Mission will be eligible for an interest-free advance of Rs 2,000.
A memorandum covering the Festival Advance was issued by the Finance Department on September 21, according to the announcement.
Support extended across worker categories
The revised measures cover a wide range of employees and workers, reflecting the government’s decision to extend festival-related financial assistance beyond regular government staff.
The Tripura festival grant will reach employees, workers and pensioners through different benefit slabs, while the separate Festival Advance provides a larger short-term financial facility to eligible categories.
The distinction between the two schemes is significant. The Festival Grant is a direct festival benefit that can be claimed once during the financial year, while the Festival Advance is an interest-free amount that eligible beneficiaries receive under the prescribed terms.
Financial assistance ahead of Durga Puja
The announcements come ahead of Durga Puja, which is scheduled to be celebrated in Tripura on October 15 this year. The government has increased both the direct festival grant and the interest-free advance as the festive season approaches.
With Rs 47.16 crore allocated for the Festival Grant and around Rs 183.77 crore earmarked for the Festival Advance, the measures represent a significant expansion of festival-related financial support in 2026-27. The revised provisions will apply across multiple employee, worker and pensioner categories in the state.
The increased assistance is expected to provide eligible beneficiaries with additional financial support during the festive period, while the expanded Festival Advance brings more categories of workers within its coverage.
Meta description: Tripura festival grant rises by Rs 300 ahead of Durga Puja, with Rs 47.16 crore allocated and interest-free Festival Advance raised to Rs 20,000.