Shimla, March 17
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented Rs 58,514 crore 2025-26 budget in Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Monday without levying a fresh tax, with focus on employment generation in rural areas by boosting agriculture income, besides improving health infrastructure and medical facilities in the state .
Sukhu, who as finance minister of the state presented his third budget, completed his speech in nearly three hours and presented department-wise budget allocations and different schemes.
The total receipts in the budget are estimated to be Rs 42,343 crore, total revenue expenditure is projected to be Rs 48,733 crore with revenue deficit of nearly Rs 6,390 crore.
In his speech, CM focused on fiscal management keeping in view the huge loans and limited resources, “Out of every rupee, 45 paisa on giving salaries and pensions to state government employees, 12 paisa on payment of interest for loans, 10 paisa for debt payments, and 9 paisa for grant to autonomous bodies; with only 24 paisa left for spending on development works ,” CM stated.
He said, “Since the state government is facing a financial crunch, this year could be the toughest year due to inadequate financial support from the central government but we will fight for state’s rights.”
CM announced Rs 425 crore for clearing pending salaries and pensions of employees, 3 percent DA, increase of Rs 300 to 320 to MGNREGA workers , increase of Rs 400 to 425 in honorarium of panchayat raj workers and ULB, creation of 25000 jobs including appointing 1000 Rogi Mitras.
He announced to raise the minimum support price for maize to Rs 40 per kg, wheat to Rs 60 per kg, natural turmeric Rs 90 per kg, procurement of cow milk has been increased to Rs 51 per liter and buffalo milk to Rs 51 per liter, besides other schemes.
