State Govt presents Budget of over Rs 1 lakh crores in House
By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 20 Feb: The Uttarakhand Government today presented a Rs 1,01,175.33 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26, with a focus on accelerating infrastructure development while ensuring economic balance. Finance Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal presented the budget in the Assembly here, today, preceding the presentation with his budget speech. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present in the House on the occasion. In his address, Aggarwal emphasised that the state government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is committed to enhancing public welfare, with a strong emphasis on sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, and rural development. He added that the budget is mainly focussed on seven key areas which are Agriculture, Energy, Infrastructure, Connectivity, AYUSH, Agriculture and Tourism.
The budget estimates total receipts of Rs 1,01,034.75 crores, which includes Rs 62,540.54 crores as revenue receipts and Rs 38,494.21 crores in form of capital receipts. Tax revenue is projected to contribute Rs 39,917.74 crores to the state exchequer, while non-tax revenue is expected to bring in Rs 22,622.80 crores, the Finance Minister claimed in his budget speech. Additionally, capital receipts from loans and other liabilities are estimated at Rs 38,470.00 crores.
In the revenue section, an amount of Rs 59,954.65 crores has been allocated, and Rs 41,220.67 crores has been allocated in the capital section. While presenting the budget, Aggarwal also claimed that it is a revenue surplus budget with no revenue deficit. The revenue surplus has been estimated to be around Rs 2,585.89 crores.
Paying tribute to the statehood martyrs, Aggarwal highlighted this year as the state’s silver jubilee year. Before presenting the budget, he also mentioned the achievements of the 38th National Games. He said that the Prime Minister has inspired the vision of a developed India by 2047. He claimed in his speech that the state government has shown the path of reform and development in every budget, laying out the road map for the future. He also mentioned the UCC as an achievement and reminded the House thatit has been implemented in the state on 27 January this year.
Major Allocations include:
Rs 59,954.65 crores in revenue and Rs 41,220.67 crores in capital expenditure. Aggarwal mentioned that 220 km of new roads and 37 new bridges will be constructed in the new year, with plans to reconstruct 1,000 km and renovate 1,550 km of roads. Safety work will also be carried out on 1,200 km of road length in the state.
Focus on Key Sectors:
Aggarwal reminded that the seven key areas of focus in the budget are Agriculture, Energy, Infrastructure, Connectivity, AYUSH, Agriculture, and Tourism. He added that an amount of Rs 50 crores has been allocated for MSME industries to boost growth in MSME sector while an amount of Rs 35 crores has been allocated for Mega Industry Policy, and Rs 30 crores for Startup Entrepreneurship Promotion.
Important Points at a Glance:
This is Uttarakhand’s first ever budget with an income-expenditure of over Rs 1 lakh crores with highest ever capital expenditure of Rs 14,763.13 crores provisioned under infrastructure construction, Rs 146 crores for the Trout Promotion Scheme of the Fisheries Department for rural employment, Rs 168.33 crores to UIDB for consultancy services for Haridwar-Rishikesh development; Rs 20 crores for the Startup Venture Fund in Uttarakhand; Rs 1 crores for the Pravasi Uttarakhand Parishad; Rs 10 crores for the River Front Development Project (Sharda Corridor); Rs 6.5 crores for the operation of electric buses under Smart City.
Mega Projects and Infrastructure:
The total budget allocation under the Mega Projects Scheme is Rs 500 crores. Of this, Rs 625 crores has been provisioned for the Jamrani Dam project; Rs 75 crores for the Song Dam project; Rs 285 crores for the Lakhwar Dam project; Rs 1,500 crores under special capital assistance for states; Rs 1,843 crores for the Jal Jeevan Mission; Rs 100 crores for urban drinking water schemes; Rs 54 crores for free gas cylinders to the poor families; Rs 20 crores for the food scheme; Rs 390 crores for the PM Awas Yojana Gramin; Rs 44 crores for the Welfare and Corpus Fund of Statehood agitationists and Rs 679 crores for subsidies in schemes of various departments.
Education and Youth Empowerment:
A provision of Rs 178.83 crores has been made under the Right to Education Act; Rs 59.41 crores for free textbooks for students of classes 9 to 12; Rs 23 crores for free shoes and bags for students of classes 1 to 8; Rs 15 crores for scholarships under the School Education Department; Rs 15 crores for scholarships under educational programmes; Rs 15 crores for the Girl Education Promotion (Cycle) Scheme; Rs 26.64 crores for the establishment of Science City and Science Centres; Rs 5.75 crores for assistance to the Space Application Centre; Rs 16.80 crores for the Council of Science and Technology; Rs 5.40 crores for the establishment of Uttarakhand Science and Teaching Research; Rs 10 crores for the Science Centre, Champawat; Rs 2.41 crores for the Vidya Samiksha Kendra; Rs 2 crores for the establishment of e-library in Government Colleges.
Social Security and Welfare:
Aggarwal also highlighted the provisions for social security and social welfare under various schemes. The total budget allocation under social security is estimated to be Rs 1,811.66 crores; Rs 918.92 crores for subsidies in various schemes; Rs 600 crores for the Annapurna Yojana; Rs 207.18 crores for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural); Rs 54.12 crores for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban); Rs 25 crores for the EWS housing grant; Rs 40 crores for free travel for passengers of specified categories in Transport Corporation buses; Rs 10 crores for the State Food Scheme; Rs 34.36 crores for providing salt at cheap rates to Antyodaya ration card holders and an amount of Rs 55 crores has been provided for LPG subsidies for poor families. The Dhami government made a provision of Rs 30 crores for the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code.
In his budget address, Aggarwal claimed that this budget aims to address the state’s pressing development needs while ensuring fiscal responsibility. It reflects the government’s vision to build a sustainable, prosperous Uttarakhand, fostering growth across key sectors that will benefit its citizens. Aggarwal said that the development of digital infrastructure, basic infrastructure, human resources, environmental conservation, and inclusive development are the central focus of our government’s various schemes.
The Finance Minister further stated that under the Uttarakhand Service Sector Policy 2024, the government will attract investment in identified sectors. He claimed that, in the field of basic infrastructure, the government is making serious efforts for large-scale projects. In this regard, the Sharda and Ganga Corridors being developed by the Uttarakhand Infrastructure and Investment Development Board are significant. These projects will not only boost religious and cultural tourism but also strengthen the local economy, he added.
Other provisions include Rs 20 crores for the Startup Venture Fund, Rs 10 crores for the River Front Development Scheme (Sharda Corridor), and Rs 6.5 crores for electric buses under the Smart City Scheme.
Additionally, Rs 1 crores has been allocated for the Home Guards Welfare Fund, Rs 5 crores for the Silk Federation Revolving Fund, Rs 30 crores for implementing the Uniform Civil Code, Rs 125 crores for Spring and River Rejuvenation, and Rs 490 crores for electricity payments in the Drinking Water and Irrigation department.
