Jharkhand to go fully digital by Jan 2026: e-Office rollout gains pace

The Jharkhand government has set January 2026 as the deadline to implement the e-Office Lite system across all state departments. Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari reviewed the status of the initiative in a meeting with senior officials and technical representatives from RailTel, NIC, and JAP-IT on Monday. She directed the Information Technology Department to ensure a complete and error-free rollout within the set timeframe.

During the review, the Chief Secretary instructed that all physical files be scanned and uploaded in PDF format to avoid dependence on hard copies. She said the system should be made secure to prevent cyber-related risks and allow officials to operate the system remotely when required. The agencies responsible for implementation have been asked to prepare a department-wise execution timeline.

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The e-Office system is currently operational in four departments: Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Rajbhasha, Finance, and Information Technology and e-Governance, along with Higher Education. Officers in these departments are being trained, and official email accounts have been created for e-Office use. Remaining departments have been asked to initiate the process.

Officials said that the system will enable access to government files digitally, reducing the need for physical handling and multiple photocopies. Files will be stored centrally in digital format, which will help avoid damage from fire, water, pests, or fungus. The system is also expected to increase the speed of file movement and allow for timely decisions by enabling real-time tracking and workflow visibility.

According to the state administration, the e-Office platform will reduce manual delays, minimise the scope for procedural hold-ups, and introduce greater traceability in official communication. With reduced use of paper and physical storage, the system is also expected to bring down operational costs.

The Chief Secretary instructed officials to coordinate with technical teams and ensure that digitisation, training, and infrastructure upgrades are carried out in a timely and structured manner.