Uttarakhand

• 21 Feb 2025

Uttarakhand Budget 2025-26

Why in News? 

The Uttarakhand government has unveiled a Rs 1,01,175.33 crore budget for the financial year 2025-26, aiming to strengthen infrastructure while ensuring economic stability. 

 Key Points 

• Budget Presentation and Vision: 
  • The State Finance Minister presented the Rs 1,01,175.33 crore budget in the State Assembly, Dehradun. 
  • The budget outlines a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s economic and infrastructural development. 
• Sectoral Focus Areas: 
  • The government has prioritized agriculture, industry, energy, infrastructure, connectivity, tourism, and Ayush. 
  • Additional emphasis has been placed on education, health, infrastructure, and rural development to foster growth. 
• Revenue and Receipts Overview: 
  • The budget estimates total receipts at Rs 1,01,034.75 crore, including: 
    • Revenue receipts: Rs 62,540.54 crore 
    • Capital receipts: Rs 38,494.21 crore 
  • Tax revenue is expected to contribute Rs 39,917.74 crore, while non-tax revenue is estimated at Rs 22,622.80 crore. 
• ‘GYAN’ Model for Inclusive Development: 
  • The budget is based on the ‘GYAN’ model, focusing on: 
    • Gareeb (Poor) 
    • Yuva (Youth) 
    • Anndata (Farmers) 
    • Naari (Women) 
• Boost to Industry and Startups: 
  • To support industrial growth and entrepreneurship, the budget includes: 
  • Rs 50 crore for MSME industries. 
  • Rs 35 crore for the Mega Industry Policy. 
  • Rs 30 crore for startup promotion. 
  • Rs 500 crore under the Mega Project Scheme to drive economic expansion. 
• Major Allocations by Sector: 
  • Water Resources and Irrigation: 
    • Funds are allocated for the Jamrani Dam, Song Dam, Lakhwad Project. 
    • Rs 1,500 crore under special capital assistance for states. 
    • Rs 1,843 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission. 
    • Rs 100 crore for urban water supply improvements. 
  • Roads, Transport, and Infrastructure: 
    • 220 km of new roads to be constructed. 
    • 1,000 km of roads to be reconstructed and 1,550 km renovated. 
    • Rs 1,200 crore for road safety initiatives. 
    • 37 new bridges to be built. 
    • Rs 1,065 crore allocated under the PMGSY scheme. 
    • Rs 36.88 crore for the Civil Aviation Department. 
  • Tourism and Cultural Development: 
    • Rs 100 crore for Tehri Lake development. 
    • Rs 25 crore for the Manskhanda Scheme. 
    • Rs 20 crore for the Vibrant Village Scheme. 
    • Rs 10 crore for new tourist destinations. 
    • Rs 10 crore for Char Dham road network improvements. 
  • Environment and Sustainable Development: 
    • Rs 395 crore allocated for the CAMPA scheme. 
    • Rs 60 crore for climate change mitigation. 
    • Rs 125 crore for the Spring and River Rejuvenation Authority (SARA). 
    • Rs 10 crore for public afforestation projects. 
  • Social Security and Welfare: 
    • Rs 1,811.66 crore allocated for social security schemes. 
    • Rs 918.92 crore set aside for various welfare subsidies. 
    • Rs 600 crore for the Food Security Scheme. 
    • Rs 207.18 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural). 
    • Rs 54.12 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). 
    • Rs 25 crore for EWS housing grants. 
    • Rs 55 crore for cooking gas subsidies for low-income families. 
    • Rs 2 crore for the Environmental Friend Insurance scheme. 
    • Rs 40 crore to provide free travel on state transport buses. 
    • Rs 10 crore for the State Food Grain Scheme. 
    • Rs 34.36 crore to subsidize salt for Antyodaya ration card holders. 
• Strategic Focus on Development: 
  • The budget reflects the state government's commitment to holistic growth and sustainable development. 
  • By emphasizing infrastructure, social welfare, environment, and economic expansion, the government aims to improve the quality of life for Uttarakhand residents. 

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana 

• PMGSY is a central government scheme launched in 2000 to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations. 
  • The scheme was originally a 100% centrally-sponsored initiative, but starting from the financial year 2015-16, the funding has been shared between the Central and State governments in a 60:40 ratio. 
  • Around 800,000 kilometres of rural roads have been built and 180,000 habitations were connected under various phases of the PMGSY scheme. 

 Vibrant Villages Programme 

• It is a Centrally sponsored scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 (to 2025-26) for development of villages on the northern border, thus improving the quality of life of people living in identified border villages. 
• It will cover the border areas of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Ladakh. 
• It will cover 2,963 villages with 663 of them to be covered in the first phase. 
• Vibrant Village Action Plans will be created by the district administration with the help of Gram Panchayats. 
• There will not be overlap with the Border Area Development Programme.