UP Budget 2025 Highlights: Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Thursday (February 20) presented a budget of Rs 8,08,736 crore for the financial year 2025-26 in the UP Assembly.
The Finance Minister has given special attention to girl students in the budget. The Finance Minister has announced a free scooty scheme for the girl students of UP. He said that the girl students studying in the state will be given free scooty by the Yogi government. He said that the government will give free scooty to make the girls self-reliant.
Khanna said that in the budget for the financial year 2025-26, 22 percent amount has been allocated for development purposes, 13 percent for education, 11 percent for agricultural services and six percent for the medical and health sector. Khanna said that we have focused on research, development and information technology in the budget.
The Finance Minister started his address by mentioning the development that has taken place in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Referring to the Maha Kumbh, he described it not only as a cultural and religious event but also called it a symbol of India’s ancient faith and cultural integrity.
Emphasis on AI and technology
The Finance Minister also announced new schemes for the construction of ‘Artificial Intelligence City’ and establishment of ‘Technology Research Translation Park’. The state budget also has provision for the modernization of the Vidhan Sabha as well as the development of smart classrooms and laboratories in schools and polytechnics. Khanna informed that the work of developing 58 municipal bodies of the state as model smart municipal bodies is underway. For this, a provision of Rs 2.50 crore for one municipal body, i.e. a total of Rs 145 crore, was proposed.
He said that Uttar Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board will work on a plan to build camps for workers/laborers in the district headquarters of the state. Canteen, drinking water, bathroom and toilet facilities will be provided in it.
Mention of ‘Zero Poverty Campaign’
The minister said that the state government has launched ‘Zero Poverty Abhiyan’ from October 2, 2024 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Under this campaign, steps will be taken to identify the poorest families of each Gram Panchayat and fulfill their basic needs and increase their annual income to at least Rs 1,25,000. Khanna also mentioned the improvement in the financial condition of the state.
He informed that Niti Aayog has recognised Uttar Pradesh as a leading state, highlighting progress in health, capital expenditure and overall economic growth. The Finance Minister said that the fiscal deficit of the state has remained within the prescribed limit. He said that according to a report of the Reserve Bank of India, Uttar Pradesh’s share in tax collection among all states is the highest in the country, which reflects strong fiscal management.
The economy picked up pace
The state’s economy, which was in a tough spot in 2017, has now doubled. The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is estimated to reach Rs 27.51 lakh crore for the financial year 2024-2025. Khanna said that there has also been a significant increase in per capita income, rising from Rs 52,671 in 2016-2017 to Rs 93,514 in 2023-2024.
