Madhya Pradesh Budget Outlay Increases 15 Pc To Rs 4.21 Lakh Crore, No New Taxes

Bhopal, Mar 12 (PTI) The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday presented a Rs 4.21 lakh crore budget for 2025-26 with no new taxes while announcing new schemes for development of religious sites.

Finance Minister Jagdish Devda presented the Rs 4,21,032 crore budget, a 15 per cent increase over the last fiscal, in the legislative assembly here.

“The budget is focused on GYAN (Garib, Yuva, Annadata and Nari) with the aim of doubling the size of the state budget in the next five years, increasing capital investment, extension of road, irrigation and power facilities, attracting investment for quality health facilities and employment generation,” Devda said.

The budget estimates a revenue surplus of Rs 618 crore in 2025-26.

The estimated revenue receipts are Rs 2,90,879 crore, which include the state’s own tax revenue of Rs 1,09,157 crore, its share in central taxes of Rs 1,11,662 crore, non-tax revenue of Rs 21,399 crore, and grants received from the center amounting to Rs 48,661 crore, the finance minister said.

For 2025-26, a seven per cent increase in the state’s own tax revenue is estimated, compared to the estimates for 2024-25.

As much as 31 per cent increase has been planned in capital expenditure.

A sum of Rs 47,296 crore (23.5 per cent increase) was allocated for Scheduled Tribes and Rs 32,633 crore (16.2 per cent increase) for Scheduled Castes.

Capital expenditure in 2025-26 is estimated to be 5.02 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and interest payments are projected to be 9.84 per cent of total revenue receipts.

The fiscal deficit is estimated to be 4.66 per cent of the GSDP, the minister said amid brief interventions from opposition members.

Allowances of government employees will be revised as per the 7th Pay Commission with effect from April 1, 2025, he said.

Among other things, ‘Omkareshwar Mahalok’ will be developed at Omkareshwar on the lines of Ujjain’s Mahakal Lok corridor, the minister said.

To propagate the life philosophy of Acharya Shankara, founder of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy, a museum and the Acharya Shankar International Advaita Vedanta Institute are being developed, he said.

A provision of Rs 500 crore has been made for the establishment of `Vedanta Peeth’.

A provision of Rs 18,669 crore has been made for the Mukhya Mantri Laadli Behna Yojana under which monthly financial assistance is provided to eligible women, the minister said, noting that it gives the lie to claims that such schemes would be scrapped.

Devda, who is the state’s deputy Chief Minister, also announced a provision of Rs 10 crore for Shrikrishna Pathey Yojana. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had earlier said religious sites associated with Lord Sri Krishna’s life will be developed under the scheme.

Similarly, Rs 30 crore were allocated for development of ‘Ram Path Gaman’ and the town of Chitrakoot.

In view of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela scheduled to be held in Ujjain in 2028, a provision of Rs 2,005 crore was made in the budget.

Development of tourism in the state has not only promoted economic development but also created employment opportunities, the minister said, providing Rs 1,610 crore for `tourism, culture and religious affairs’, an increase of Rs 133 crore over the last year.

To facilitate study of religious texts, literature, scientific research and to improve the declining interest in studies among the general public, state-of-the-art `Gita Bhawan’ study centres will be built in all urban civic bodies, the minister said.

A provision of Rs 100 crore was proposed for this scheme in the budget.

Further, Rs 50 crore were allocated for a scheme under which the government facilitates pilgrimages for senior citizens.

More than eight lakh senior citizens have benefited from the scheme since its inception, Devda said, adding that disabled citizens are given the facility of free travel.

To promote tourism, 14 monuments of religious and cultural importance are being constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 507 crore.

The minister also said that a provision of Rs 850 crore has been made for Metro rail projects.

Referring to the successful organization of the Global Investors Summit (GIS) 2025 in the state, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled 18 new policies with an aim to attract investment and facilitate the ease of doing business.

A provision of Rs 3,250 crore was made in the budget for giving incentives to industries, an increase of Rs 551 crore over the previous year.

The government has already decided to observe 2025-26 as the year of industries and employment, the finance minister noted.

The budget allocated Rs 17,136 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission and National Rural Drinking Water Mission, Rs 13,909 crore under the Atal Kisan Jyoti Scheme and Rs 7,624 crore for one-time grants to local bodies for basic services.

The budget further allocated Rs 7,132 crore under the Atal Griha Jyoti Scheme, Rs 5,500 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs 5,299 crore for free electricity supply to 5 HP agricultural pumps/threshers and one light connection, Rs 5,220 crore under the Mukhya Mantri Kisan Kalyan Yojana.

Further, it allocated Rs 4,686 crore under the CM Rise Schools, Rs 4,418 crore under the National Health Mission (NUHM/NRHM), Rs 4,400 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Rs 4,366 crore as grants to local bodies as per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.