Bihar Government Tables Rs 2.78 Lakh Crore Budget | 15 Feb 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Bihar government presented a Rs 2.78 lakh crore budget, making education its top priority by allocating over 22% of funds to the department.

Key Points

• The government also laid special focus on information and technology, tourism and earmarked over Rs 1 lakh crore for sundry government schemes.
• Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary presented a budget of Rs 2,78,725.72 crore:
  • Allocating Rs 22,200.35 crore (22.20%) to the education department.
  • Rs 13,840.56 crore (13.84%) to the rural development department.
  • Rs 8,191.79 crore (8.19%) to the social welfare department.
  • The rural works and health departments were allocated Rs 7,409.13 crore (7.41%) and Rs 7,117.56 crore (7.12%).
  • The government would spend Rs 3,073.26 crore on several scholarship schemes alone.
  • The government has estimated an expenditure of Rs 5,040 crore on good governance schemes under the Saat Nischay, Part-II programme.
• The budget has a revenue surplus of Rs 1,121.41 crore and shows a fiscal deficit of 2.98%. It also shows an outstanding debt of Rs 3.48 lakh crore.