Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday proposed to pass the budget estimates for the financial year 2025-26 in the House. A total budget of Rs 62,387.61 crore was passed. According to the passed budget, about Rs 9 thousand crore will be spent for the education department. Apart from this, out of the budget, there will be Rs 2585.99 crore revenue expenditure for health, Rs 220.07 capital expenditure, Rs 3009.94 crore revenue expenditure for public works, road and bridge construction and Rs 1014.43 crore capital expenditure.
A provision has been made to spend Rs 2709.48 crore revenue expenditure in irrigation, water supply and sanitation, Rs 704.71 crore on capital expenditure by the state government. Rs 2019.66 crore for revenue expenditure in the Social Justice and Empowerment Department, similarly Rs 1682.17 crore for revenue expenditure in Rural Development Department, Rs 1934.59 crore for revenue expenditure in Tribal Area Development Program, Rs 323.16 crore for capital expenditure, Rs 2663.88 crore for revenue under Scheduled Caste Development Program and Rs 939.62 crore for capital expenditure have been kept in the budget by the state government.
In Himachal Pradesh, a whip was issued three days before the passing of the budget. All 40 Congress MLAs were present in the Vidhan Sabha at the time of passing the budget.
Ten percent of the budget amount will be spent on repaying loans. Nine percent of the amount will be spent on grants for autonomous institutions. In the budget, the state government has announced 25 thousand jobs, 3% DA to the employees, minimum salary of Rs. 12,750 to the outsourced employees, payment of pending arrears to the pensioners between 70 to 75 years, increase in minimum daily wage by Rs. 425 and MNREGA wages by Rs. 20. A revenue deficit of Rs. 6390 crore is estimated in the budget. Along with the revenue deficit, a capital deficit of about Rs. 10,338 crore is estimated. According to budget estimates, in the coming financial year, the state government’s revenue receipts are estimated to be Rs. 42,343 crore and revenue expenditure is estimated to be Rs. 48,733 crore.