Andhra Pradesh Unveils ₹3.22 Lakh Crore Budget for 2025-26

Amaravati, Feb 28 (NationPress) The Finance Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Payyavula Keshav, disclosed a budget of ₹3,22,359 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26 on Friday.

This budget reflects an increase of approximately 9.48 percent compared to the previous year, where the budget for 2024-25 was ₹2,94,427 crore.

The projected revenue expenditure is set at ₹2,51,162 crore, while the capital expenditure is estimated at ₹40,635 crore. The anticipated revenue deficit stands at around ₹33,185 crore, with the fiscal deficit estimated at about ₹79,926 crore.

Keshav mentioned, “The revenue deficit will represent roughly 1.82 percent, and the fiscal deficit will account for about 4.38 percent of the GSDP.”

This marks the second comprehensive budget presented by the TDP-led NDA administration since assuming power in June of the previous year.

Previously, in November, Keshav had introduced a budget of ₹2.94 lakh crore for the year 2024-25.

A dedicated budget of ₹48,000 crore for agriculture was introduced by Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu.

For education, the Finance Minister allocated ₹31,805 crore, a rise from ₹29,909 crore in the last budget, while funding for agriculture and related sectors was set at ₹13,487 crore compared to ₹11,855 crore in 2024-25.

The allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes saw an increase to ₹20,281 crore from ₹18,497 crore. Additionally, ₹8,159 crore was allocated for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes, up from ₹7,557 crore in the previous budget.

The coalition government plans to allocate ₹47,456 crore for the welfare of Backward Classes, which was ₹39,007 crore in 2024-25.

The funding for minority welfare has also been raised from ₹4,376 crore to ₹5,434 crore.

Moreover, the allocation for women and child welfare increased from ₹4,285 crore to ₹4,332 crore.

The Finance Minister suggested an allocation of ₹1,228 crore for skill development, ₹2,506 crore for higher education, ₹19,264 crore for health, ₹18,847 crore for Panchayat Raj and rural development, and ₹13,862 crore for municipal administration and urban development.

In addition, the government has proposed expenditures of ₹6,318 crore for housing, ₹18,019 crore for water resources, ₹3,156 crore for industry and commerce, ₹13,600 crore for energy, ₹8,785 crore for roads and buildings, ₹469 crore for youth affairs, tourism and culture, ₹2,800 crore for the Jal Jeevan Mission, and ₹6,705 crore for the Polavaram project.

The government has outlined allocations to implement various schemes promised during the elections.

For the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, already underway, the Finance Minister proposed ₹27,518 crore in funding.

Additionally, ₹9,403 crore has been earmarked for Thalli Ki Vandanam, a scheme set to roll out this financial year.

This initiative will provide ₹15,000 annually to each school-going student, credited to the mother’s bank account.

For the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme, which offers ₹20,000 annually to every farmer, ₹6,300 crore has been allocated.