Shimla, March 18 — Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented a Rs 58,514 crore tax-free Budget for the 2025-26 financial year in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, prioritizing agriculture, social security, and healthcare.
Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio, drove his personal Maruti Alto to the Assembly for his third Budget presentation. His 98-page speech, delivered in Hindi, lasted two hours and 54 minutes, with his wife and Dehra MLA Kamlesh Thakur in attendance.
The Budget estimates a fiscal deficit of Rs 10,338 crore, accounting for 4.04% of the State Gross Domestic Product. Total receipts are projected at Rs 56,945.34 crore, while expenditure is expected to be Rs 58,514.31 crore. Revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 42,343 crore, with revenue expenditure pegged at Rs 48,733 crore, resulting in a revenue deficit of Rs 6,390 crore.
Key Announcements:
For employees and workers: A 3% dearness allowance (DA) hike for government employees, daily wage increase for MGNREGA workers from Rs 300 to Rs 320, and for other daily wagers from Rs 400 to Rs 425.
Social welfare: The honorarium for panchayati raj and urban local body representatives will be raised. Grants for inter-caste marriages will increase from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Besides, 37,000 new social security pensions will be introduced.
Employment: The government plans to create 25,000 new jobs across various departments.
Support for Agriculture and Dairy:
Cow milk rates will increase from Rs 45 to Rs 51 per litre, while buffalo milk will rise from Rs 55 to Rs 61.
The minimum support price (MSP) for maize will be set at Rs 40 per kg, wheat at Rs 60 per kg, and raw turmeric at Rs 90 per kg.
A spice park will be established in Nadaun, Hamirpur.
New Schemes:
Mukhyamantri Laghu Dookandar Yojana: A Rs 100 crore scheme for small vendors, including fruit sellers, tea stall owners, barbers, and cobblers, offering one-time loan settlements of up to Rs 1 lakh for shopkeepers with an annual turnover exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
Rajiv Gandhi Van Samvardhan Yojana: With a Rs 100 crore allocation, this scheme aims to promote community-led forest management by involving mahila and yuvak mandals.
Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Dekhbhal Yojana: Healthcare services will be provided at home for individuals above 70 years.
Climate Resilient Villages: Under this initiative, 100 climate-sensitive villages will be identified for climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy microgrid projects.
Sukhu said only 24 paise of every rupee would be available for development works, with the rest allocated for salaries (25 paise), pensions (20 paise), interest payments (12 paise), debt payments (10 paise), and grants to autonomous bodies (9 paise).
Read More: Himachal CM Presents Rs 58,514 Crore
