Good news for lakhs of pensioners in Maharashtra: that annual scramble to find a stamp vendor is officially over. The state’s Finance Department has scrapped the requirement to buy stamp paper for the affidavit needed to open a joint savings account for pension payments — from August 1, 2026, plain paper will do.
The change, notified through a Government Resolution dated July 14, 2026, rescinds a 2013-era order that had quietly become a costly nuisance. What began as a Rs 100 stamp paper requirement had, after subsequent stamp duty hikes, threatened to balloon to Rs 500 — a real dent for retirees living on fixed incomes, not to mention the hassle of tracking down a vendor or standing in line at the treasury office.
Now, pensioners can simply write out the affidavit on ordinary paper and submit it directly — either to the Pay and Accounts Office in Mumbai or any district and sub-treasury office statewide. No stamp shopping, no extra cost.
The digitally signed order has already been circulated to the Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, and all district and treasury officials for swift rollout. Officials are calling it a small but meaningful step toward “ease of living” for senior citizens — cutting one more layer of red tape out of their dealings with the government.
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