Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the state’s ₹4.21 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2025-26, marking a 15% increase from the previous year’s budget of ₹3.65 lakh crore. The budget, described as development-oriented, focuses on infrastructure, welfare schemes, and industrial growth, with no new taxes introduced.
Key Highlights:
- Infrastructure Development: The government has allocated ₹19,000 crore for the energy sector and ₹18,715 crore for urban development, including ₹2,000 crore for preparations for the 2028 Sinhastha Kumbh Mela in Ujjain. Plans include constructing 1 lakh kilometers of roads and 500 railway overbridges over the next five years.
- Welfare Schemes: ₹18,669 crore has been earmarked for the Ladli Behna Yojana, providing financial assistance to eligible women. Additionally, ₹47,296 crore and ₹32,633 crore have been allocated for schemes benefiting Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, respectively.
- Education and Healthcare: The budget includes provisions for 11 new Ayurvedic colleges, an increase of 400 MBBS seats, and ₹23,533 crore for healthcare initiatives.
- Industrial Growth: ₹58,257 crore has been allocated for agriculture, while 39 new industrial areas will be developed, creating an estimated 3 lakh jobs.
- Digital Transparency: For the first time, the budget includes a QR code feature, enabling citizens to track government spending.
Fiscal Outlook:
The budget estimates a revenue surplus of ₹618 crore and a fiscal deficit of 4.66% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). The state’s GSDP for 2025-26 is projected at ₹16.94 lakh crore, with a vision to achieve ₹250 lakh crore by 2047.
Political Reactions:
While the ruling BJP hailed the budget as a step toward a “developed Madhya Pradesh,” the opposition criticized it as a “budget of debt,” citing concerns over increasing fiscal deficit and lack of new policies for youth and farmers.
This ambitious budget reflects the government’s commitment to balancing welfare and development, setting the stage for Madhya Pradesh’s growth trajectory in the coming years.
