NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Thursday presented a Rs 8,08,736-crore Budget for 2025-26 in the state assembly, emphasising research, development and Information Technology.
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He stated that nearly 22% of the Budget is allocated for development, 13% for education, 11% for agriculture and related services, and 6% for health.
“We have focused on research, development and Information Technology in the Budget,” Khanna said in his speech.
He opened his address by lauding chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s leadership and highlighting the state’s progress. He also spoke about the ongoing Maha Kumbh, calling it not just a cultural and religious event but a unique astronomical phenomenon representing India’s ancient heritage and cultural unity.
Khanna noted that the Budget for 2025-26 is 9.8% higher than the previous year’s Rs 7,36,437-crore outlay, which had included new schemes worth Rs 24,863.57 crore.
Key initiatives in the Budget include the development of an Artificial Intelligence City and a technology research park focused on cyber security. Additionally, the state plans to modernize the Legislative Assembly, establish smart classrooms and laboratories in schools and polytechnics, and develop 58 municipal bodies into model smart municipalities with Rs 2.50 crore allocated per body, totaling Rs 145 crore.
The Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board will set up labor bases at district headquarters, offering amenities like canteens, drinking water, and sanitation facilities.
Khanna also highlighted the ‘Zero Poverty Abhiyan,’ launched on October 2, 2024, which aims to identify the poorest families in each Gram Panchayat and raise their annual income to at least ₹1,25,000.
He underscored Uttar Pradesh’s financial improvements, citing NITI Aayog’s recognition of the state as a “front runner” in health, capital expenditure, and economic growth. He assured that the fiscal deficit remains within limits and credited efforts to boost development spending while reducing debt.
“According to a report by the Reserve Bank of India, Uttar Pradesh’s share of tax receipts among all states is among the highest in the country, reflecting strong financial management,” he said.
He further pointed out that Uttar Pradesh’s economy, which faced challenges in 2017, has since doubled. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is projected to reach Rs 7.51 lakh crore in 2024-25, while per capita income has risen from Rs 52,671 in 2016-17 to Rs 93,514 in 2023-24.