CM Yogi Adityanath : A total of Rs 1,79,131.04 crore has been proposed for infrastructure development.
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath described today as a very important day. He said that the country’s most populous state has presented the biggest budget in the assembly as compared to other states. This is the 9th budget of the state government under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The steps taken for the development of Uttar Pradesh in the last eight years have shown positive results.
CM Yogi Adityanath was addressing a press conference at the Tilak Hall after the presentation of the budget for 2025-26 by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna in the Vidhan Sabha. He congratulated the Finance Minister, Additional Chief Secretary Finance and his entire team for presenting the budget in line with the aspirations of Uttar Pradesh.
CM Yogi Adityanath said that this year is especially important, as it is the Amrit Mahotsav year of the implementation of the Constitution. Also, this is also the Amrit Mahotsav year of the establishment of Uttar Pradesh. This budget has been prepared keeping in mind the action plan for the next 25 years. Paying tributes to the architect of the Constitution, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the Chief Minister informed that a ‘Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Centre’ is being constructed in Lucknow, which will soon become a major centre of his thoughts and will take forward the work of giving priority to the underprivileged in line with the spirit of the Constitution. Based on this theme, the budget for 2025-26 has also been prepared.
CM Yogi Adityanath said that in the last eight years, the budget has been presented in the state with a certain theme. The Budget for 2017-18 was dedicated to farmers with focus on loan waiver, MSP benefits, payment of sugarcane price, improved seeds and irrigation facilities. With these efforts, the income of farmers has more than doubled. The 2018-19 budget focused on industrial and infrastructure development, which will enable Uttar Pradesh to achieve a share of over 55% in the country’s expressway network. In addition, the first Investors Summit was also held in the same year.
The Budget 2019-20 focused on women empowerment, giving priority to safety, dignity and self-reliance of women through schemes like Mukhyamantri Samuhik Vivah Yojana, Kanya Sumangala Yojana and Mission Shakti. With all these efforts, Uttar Pradesh has made rapid progress and this budget will also prove to be an important step towards the overall development of the state.
The Uttar Pradesh government has made 20% posts mandatory for women in the police force, giving priority to the empowerment of women.
CM Yogi Adityanath informed that the Budget 2020-21 focused on the development of youth and employment generation, in which a scheme to make two crore youth technically capable by giving them tablets / smartphones was implemented. The Budget 2021-22 was based on the theme of ‘Swavalamban se Sashaktikaran’, wherein traditional products were encouraged by promoting the MSME sector and priority was given to self-reliance.
The 2022-23 budget focused on the concept of ‘Antyodaya to Aatmanirbharta’. It gave priority to rural development and promoted the creation of Village Secretariats to enhance self-reliance of Panchayats, thereby creating 5-7 employment opportunities in each Gram Panchayat. The Budget for 2023-24 was a budget to strengthen the inclusive and holistic development of Uttar Pradesh.
In the budget of 2024-25, keeping in mind the concept of Ram Rajya, the possibilities of development in the field of tourism, trade and technology were enhanced. For the first time under this budget, more than 65 crore tourists arrived in Uttar Pradesh, including more than 14 lakh foreign tourists. As a result of this, Uttar Pradesh succeeded in getting the top position in the country in tourism.
CM Yogi Adityanath informed that the budget for 2025-26 is dedicated to the ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’ principle of Sanatan culture, in which the welfare of the poor, farmers, youth and women has been given priority. This budget has been prepared in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of giving priority to the underprivileged.
The total size of the budget for 2025-26 is over Rs. 8.08 lakh crore, which is 9.8 per cent more than the budget for 2024-25. This growth shows the economic potential of the state and proves the commitment of the double engine government. The Budget proposes a capital expenditure of Rs. 2.25 lakh crore, which will strengthen infrastructure and create new employment opportunities, giving further impetus to the State’s economy.
CM Yogi Adityanath informed that the GDP of the state in 2017-18 was Rs 12.89 lakh crore, which is estimated to be Rs 27.51 lakh crore in 2024-25. This increase has happened when there was a global pandemic Corona crisis for three years. In 2016-17, Uttar Pradesh was the sixth-seventh largest economy in the country, but now it has become the second largest economy in the country.
The government has strengthened the economic condition of the state by plugging revenue leakages, making optimum use of technology and developing new revenue sources. As a result, in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25, Uttar Pradesh has been among the leading states in the country in terms of tax revenue receipts.
Under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double engine government is working on the mantra of 5-T model (Trade, Tourism, Technology, Tradition and Talent). Under this, Uttar Pradesh is moving fast in the direction of turning its labour force into an economic power. The Chief Minister said that the budget for 2025-26 will play an important role in taking Uttar Pradesh towards the goal of making it a $1 trillion economy.
The budget has pegged the fiscal deficit at 2.97% of the Gross State Domestic Product, lower than the 3% limit set by the Reserve Bank of India. This is a great example of financial management and discipline of the government. In the NITI Aayog report, Uttar Pradesh has been ranked as the leading state in the Fiscal Health Index with an increase of 8 points.
In the last 8 years, the capital expenditure of Uttar Pradesh has increased from 1.8 per cent to 19.3 per cent, which is higher than the national average. It is clear that Uttar Pradesh is continuously moving towards economic and infrastructural development, which is strengthening the state’s economy and employment opportunities.
There has been success in reducing the rate of unemployment in the state and large-scale employment opportunities have been created. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector of the state has made its own identity at the national level. Due to continuous efforts, in the last eight years, the state has received investment proposals of about Rs 45 lakh crore, out of which investment of more than Rs 15 lakh crore has been grounded. This has helped in providing employment to more than 60 lakh youth.
A provision of Rs 28, 478.31 crore has been made for new schemes in the budget for 2025-26. Of this, Rs 1,79, 131.04 crore has been proposed for infrastructure development, which is 22 per cent of the total budget. In this budget, special attention has been given to the development of energy, irrigation, industry, urban development, housing and urban planning and civil aviation. Municipal councils with district headquarters have been planned to be developed on the lines of smart cities. Also, the infrastructure of Kanpur, Meerut and Mathura will be developed on the lines of Prayagraj. Over Rs 1,06,360 crore has been allocated for education, which is 13 per cent of the total budget. Uttar Pradesh is one of the few states that is spending so much on education.
Agriculture sector has also been given special priority. A provision of Rs 89,353 crore has been made for agriculture and allied sectors like horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, cooperatives, rural development, panchayati raj, Namami Gange and rural water supply, which is 11 per cent of the total budget. At the same time, 50,550 crore rupees have been arranged for the medical sector, which is 6 percent of the total budget.
There is a plan to set up cancer day-care centres in every district of the state, for which necessary funds have been arranged in the budget. Under this scheme, facilities will be made available for cancer patients in every district in the first phase. Home Guards, PRD jawans, Gram Chowkidars, Shikshamitras, Basic Education Department instructors, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs, contract workers and all employees associated with sanitation will get free medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan.
An amount of Rs 35,863 crore has been provided in the Budget for social welfare, which will be spent on schemes like general category, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, backward classes, empowerment of divyangjans, women and child welfare. A provision of more than Rs 4,720 crore has been made for scholarships. A provision of Rs 900 crore has been made for marriage of daughters of poor families, while Rs 13,648 crore has been proposed for social pension schemes.
Uttar Pradesh has now become a revenue surplus state and is playing a major role in the development of India by moving out of the category of BIMARU state. This year’s budget has announced the construction of four new expressways, including:
The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is planned to connect the Ganga Expressway to Farrukhabad via Hardoi.
The Ganga Expressway will be connected to Purvanchal Expressway via Prayagraj, Mirzapur, Varanasi, Chandauli, which will be named Vindhya Expressway.
Construction of Ganga Expressway Extension Expressway between Meerut – Haridwar.
Provision of funds for connecting Ganga Expressway with Bundelkhand Expressway.
Further, to improve the traffic system in Prayagraj, funds have been allocated in the budget for construction of one new bridge each on river Ganga parallel to Shastri Bridge and on river Yamuna parallel to Signature Bridge. A provision has also been made in the budget to develop Lucknow as an artificial intelligence hub. One convention centre each will be constructed at all the divisional headquarters of the state, where public programmes can be held. An amount has also been earmarked in the budget to construct Utsav Bhavans in every gram panchayat so that villagers can get space for weddings, religious rituals and other public events.
Due to the steps taken by the state government in the last eight years, 6 crore people have been successful in bringing them above the poverty line. In this year’s Union Budget, important provisions have been made for poverty alleviation. To make India a $5 trillion economy, it is necessary to take steps towards a poverty-free society. Accelerating Uttar Pradesh, which is the most populous state in the country, towards this goal is a big challenge. The state government has made special provisions for poverty alleviation in its budget. Under this, facilities will be provided to those families who do not have any basic facilities today. At the same time, efforts will be made to provide employment to one member of such families so that the annual income of the family is ensured at least Rs. 1.25 lakh.
A District Economic Zone named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel will be set up in every district for the youth to move forward in the field of employment, entrepreneurship and education. This will play an important role in providing employment opportunities to the youth in their own area. These economic zones will be developed in various sectors including industrial development, MSME, textiles, education and health.
Apart from this, the state government will set up textile parks in 10 districts in the name of Sant Kabir, while leather parks will be built in 2 districts in the name of Sant Ravidas. The year 2024 marks the birth centenary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. On this occasion, the state government will take forward the construction of libraries and digital libraries in urban areas in his name on priority.
CM Yogi Adityanath announced that the state government is working towards ensuring minimum wages of outsourcing personnel. Under this, these employees will get a minimum salary of 16 to 18 thousand rupees directly in their bank accounts. A corporation will be set up for the smooth implementation of this scheme, and it will be run directly by the state government. The government also clarified that the entire salary will be credited directly to the account of the employees.
CM Yogi Adityanath said that this year on the foundation day of Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister’s Youth Entrepreneur Development Campaign was launched, in which more than 98 thousand youth have applied so far. Out of these, 76 thousand applications have been sent to the banks, 16 thousand loans have been sanctioned and 6 thousand loans have been distributed to the beneficiaries. The government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 1,000 crore to provide support to 1 lakh young entrepreneurs in the coming year.
Significant progress has been made in the forestry sector in the state, which has seen an increase in forest cover. In the last eight years, the government achieved the target of planting 210 crore saplings, and last year more than 36 crore saplings were planted under the ‘Ek Tree Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Plans are also afoot to set up a forestry university, aimed at promoting horticultural crops.
The state government will set up a seed park in the name of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh in Lucknow to provide improved seeds for farmers, for which a budgetary provision of Rs 251 crore has been made. In addition, an investment of Rs 4,000 crore is being promoted under the UP Agriz scheme in 26 districts. Funds have also been allocated in the budget for expansion of Chhatra Sugar Mill and construction of distillery at Integrated Sugar Complex of Pipraich Sugar Mill.
In the first phase, rest houses for farmers and Annapurna canteens will be constructed in major mandis of every district of the state, where farmers will get food at a low price. Under the Mukhyamantri Krishak Accident Welfare Scheme, Rs 1,050 crore has been proposed in case of death of farmers due to disaster, which will give them an insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh. A provision of Rs 2,000 crore has been made for the maintenance of destitute bovines.
CM Yogi Adityanath has made a budgetary provision of Rs 400 crore to provide scooties to meritorious girl students. This scheme will be run in the name of Rani Lakshmibai. Under the CM Yogi Adityanath mass marriage scheme, more than 4 lakh daughters have been married so far, and now the grant amount has been increased from 51 thousand to 1 lakh rupees for each couple. Incentives for widow remarriage and marriage assistance to daughters of destitute women have also been increased to Rs 1-1 lakh.
There is a plan to build hostels in the name of Punyashlok Mata Ahilyabai Holkar for working women in seven districts of the state – Varanasi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Kanpur Nagar, Jhansi and Agra. Budgetary provision has been made for this purpose, as this is the year of the 300th birth anniversary of Mata Ahilyabai Holkar. Rs 971 crore has been proposed as additional honorarium for Anganwadi workers and helpers.
Keeping in mind the development of religious and cultural heritage, the schemes related to Prayagraj Mahakumbh are expected to have a potential economic growth of more than Rs 3 lakh crore. In the Ayodhya region, Rs 150 crore has been proposed for tourism development, Rs 100 crore for Mathura-Vrindavan, Rs 150 crore for Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Corridor, and Rs 200 crore for development of Maa Vindhyavasini Dham and triangular area. A budget of Rs 100-100 crore has been allocated for setting up tourism facilities and Vedic Science Centre at Naimisharanya and Rs 50 crore for development of tourism facilities at Chitrakoot.