The Andhra Pradesh government, led by the TDP-NDA coalition, has presented a budget of ₹3.22 lakh crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year, prioritising welfare schemes.
Key initiatives include an annual payout of ₹20,000 for farmers, a doubled financial relief of ₹20,000 for fishermen during the fishing ban period, and ₹15,000 for school children up to intermediate level under the "Talliki Vandanam" scheme.
Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, in his budget address, outlined the allocations for various social groups: ₹20,281 crore for Scheduled Castes, ₹8,159 crore for Scheduled Tribes, ₹47,456 crore for Backward Classes, and ₹5,434 crore for minority communities.
"I am pleased to announce the launch of the Talliki Vandanam scheme, providing ₹15,000 in financial support for the 2025-26 academic year. This will benefit children in Classes I to XII, in both state and private schools," stated Mr Keshav.
He further emphasised, "Regardless of our financial situation, our farmers will receive ₹20,000 annually under the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme."
The budget encompasses the "Super Six" promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections, which include:
1) ₹1,500 monthly assistance for women aged 19 to 59.
2) ₹20 lakh jobs for young people or ₹3,000 monthly unemployment allowance.
3) Free bus travel for women.
4) ₹15,000 annually per school child (Talliki Vandanam).
5) Three free gas cylinders per household (Deepam – 2).
6) ₹20,000 annual financial assistance for farmers (Annadata Sukhibhava).
The government also intends to implement an insurance-based health coverage of ₹25 lakh per family in the next financial year.
The budget’s estimated revenue expenditure is ₹2.51 lakh crore, with a capital expenditure of ₹40,635 crore. The projected revenue deficit is ₹33,185 crore (1.82 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product), and the fiscal deficit is ₹79,926 crore (4.38 per cent of the GSDP).
Key departmental allocations include:
1) School Education: ₹31,805 crore.
2) Health, Medical and Family Welfare: ₹19,264 crore.
3) Panchayati Raj and Rural Development: ₹18,847 crore.
4) Municipal Administration and Urban Development: ₹13,862 crore.
5) Energy Department: ₹13,600 crore.
6) Transport, Roads and Buildings: ₹8,785 crore.
7) Home Department: ₹8,570 crore.
8) Deepam-2 scheme: ₹2,601 crore.
Mr Keshav criticised the previous YSRCP government for "financial destruction," stating that the budget was presented against a backdrop of "financial chaos."
Follow us
