Inside Chandrababu Naidu's budget for Andhra Pradesh
What's the story
The Andhra Pradesh government led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has presented a full-fledged budget for the fiscal year 2025-26.
The budget of ₹3,22,359 crore was presented by Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav.
This is the first full-fledged financial plan since the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to power in June last year.
Key allocations
Budget aligns with 'Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision'
The budget is in accordance with the "Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision," a long-term development plan for the state.
Notable allocations include ₹48,341 crore for agriculture and ₹34,311 crore for education.
Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has been given priority with earmarked funds of ₹20,218 crore and ₹8,159 crore respectively.
Minority welfare will also get an allocation of ₹5,434 crore.
Election pledges
Budget supports TDP's 'Super Six' election promises
The budget also backs the TDP-led National Democratic Alliance's "Super Six" election promises.
These are free travel for women on state busses and ₹20,000 payment to farmers under the Annadata Sukhibhava-PM Kisan scheme.
Three free LPG cylinders will also be given to eligible beneficiaries.
The 'Thalliki Vandanam' scheme will give ₹15,000 annually to mothers sending their children to school, while girl students and unemployed youths will get monthly allowances of ₹1,500 and ₹3,000 respectively.
Welfare focus
Backward class welfare and infrastructure development prioritized
For backward class welfare, the budget allocates ₹47,456 crore. An additional ₹1,000 crore is designated for the Adarana-3 scheme and financial support for backward class students in higher education.
Infrastructure development is also a priority with allocations such as ₹8,785 crore for road development and funds for key projects like Polavaram and Jal Jeevan Mission.
The budget includes a provision of ₹230 crore to support fishermen during fishing bans with payments of ₹20,000 each.
Budget criticism
Opposition criticizes budget, Naidu defends allocations
The opposition YSR Congress Party had slammed the budget as "deceptive," alleging it didn't have a concrete development plan and proper allocations for some schemes.
However, CM Naidu maintained that the budget was designed to meet people's expectations and set right the previous financial mess.
He said in just eight months welfare schemes like pension hikes, Anna Canteens, and Deepam schemes have been launched.
Deficit estimates
Fiscal deficit and revenue deficit estimates
The fiscal deficit is pegged at around ₹79,926 crore (4.38% of GSDP) with an estimated revenue deficit of about ₹33,185 crore (1.82% of GSDP).
Going forward, the government will introduce a mega health coverage plan providing ₹25 lakh insurance coverage per family in the next fiscal year.
This is part of the government's continued efforts to meet electoral promises and enhance public welfare across Andhra Pradesh.