UP presents Rs 9.13 lakh crore Budget for 2026-27, outlay up 12.2 pc

Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna on Wednesday presented the state’s Budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Assembly, with a total outlay of Rs 9.13 lakh crore.

This marks an increase of about 12.2 per cent over last year. The Budget focuses on strengthening education and agriculture sectors to drive economic growth.

Khanna highlighted that the state government remains fully committed to fiscal management and debt control. The capital expenditure for the year is set at 19.5 per cent.

Following the recommendations of the 16th Central Finance Commission, accepted by the Centre, the fiscal deficit limit for 2026-27 has been fixed at three per cent and will remain in effect until 2030-31.

Speaking on allocations, Khanna said, “The allocations for education and health are 12.4 and six per cent of the total budget, respectively. Furthermore, the amount allocated for agriculture and allied services is nine per cent of the total budget.”

He stressed that capital investment and infrastructure development are vital for strengthening the economy, alongside creating employment opportunities and equipping youth with relevant skills.

To reduce unemployment, the minister announced large-scale employment-oriented training and skill enhancement programmes, to be run in mission mode. Existing skill development centres will be expanded, and new centres established across the state, including special centres for women. Private sector participation will be encouraged through public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives for skill development and job placement.

Khanna further announced the establishment of an agri-export hub under the World Bank-assisted UP-AGREES project to boost agricultural exports and farmers’ income. The next phase of the Ease of Doing Business reforms will promote industries based on the “Jan Vishwas” principle, with simplified procedures for registration, licensing, and operations. A Digital Entrepreneurship Scheme will also be implemented to support innovation and technology-driven enterprises.

The minister cited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision: “Yahi junoon, yahi khwab mera hai, diya jalakar roshni kar doon jahan andhera hai” (This is my passion, this is my dream – to light a lamp and illuminate wherever there is darkness). Khanna expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for including two high-speed rail corridors — Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri — in the Union Budget, connecting Uttar Pradesh, and welcomed proposals for developing the Sarnath and Hastinapur sites.

He also highlighted state initiatives such as establishing emergency and trauma centres in district hospitals, hostels for girl students in each district, and skill enhancement for 10,000 tourist guides. Khanna appreciated the Centre’s move to reduce prices of medicines for diabetes and cancer, calling it a highly commendable step.