Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna on Thursday announced the state’s general budget for 2025-26 in the state assembly on Thursday morning. This was the fourth budget under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s second term. The budget, estimated at around Rs 8 lakh crore, aimed to boost development and move closer to the goal of making Uttar Pradesh a one trillion-dollar economy.
The budget focused on infrastructure, job creation, farmer support, and improvements in health and education. It also allocated funds for religious tourism, technology upgrades, and urban development. The proposals reflected some of the promises made in the BJP’s 2022 election manifesto. Before being presented in the assembly, the budget was approved during a cabinet meeting led by CM Yogi Adityanath on Thursday morning.
The size of the presented budget is Rs 8 lakh 8 thousand 736 crore 6 lakh, which is 9.8 percent more than the budget for the year 2024-2025.
- Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries to get 2 free cylinders, Ayodhya to become a solar city. Eight data centre parks to be ready.
- The state aims to boost self-employment in rural areas through Khadi and Village Industries. Under the Chief Minister Gramodyog Rojgar Yojana, bank loans will be provided to 800 beneficiaries in 2025-26, creating jobs for 16,000 people through new enterprises. Additionally, Rs 32 crore is proposed under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Khadi Marketing Development Assistance Scheme, and Rs 11.5 crore for the Uttar Pradesh Mati Kala Board.
- Meritorious girl students will receive scooties based on eligibility. The government will build science parks in Uttar Pradesh, modeled after the Knowledge Park. Smart classes and digital libraries will be introduced in government polytechnics. A Center of Excellence will be established to promote AI. Fifty-eight Nagar Palika Parishads will be developed into smart cities, similar to Nagar Nigams. Canteens and toilets will be constructed at labor camps for workers. Of the total budget, 22 percent has been allocated for improving citizens’ facilities, 13 percent for education, 11 percent for agriculture, 6 percent for health services, and 4 percent for social security.
- The Finance Minister said that an Innovation Fund will be established. The Zero Poverty Campaign has been launched and interest-free loans are being provided to the youth. Startups are also being promoted. Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was in a poor state. The target for the economy is one trillion.
- The budget is being presented in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. State Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said that the government is presenting a budget of Rs 8,08,736 crore this time, which is more than 9 per cent higher than the previous budget.
- Capital expenditure in the budget constitutes approximately 20.5 per cent of the total budget.
- Capital outlay includes expenditures related to infrastructure construction, expansion, and investment.
- The role of capital expenditure is crucial for key activities such as industry, transportation, market access for products, and attracting capital investment in the state.
- In this budget, 22 per cent of resources have been allocated for infrastructure development, 13 per cent for education, 11 per cent for agriculture and allied services, 6 per cent for medical and health and 4 per cent for social security programs.
- It is also focused on research and development, along with information technology, in the budget.
- A special provision has been proposed to equip the Vidhan Sabha with modern IT systems. This process will continue further.
