AP presents Rs 3.2 lakh crore budget for 2025-26, priority to welfare

The budget, presented in the assembly on Friday has a total outlay of Rs 3.22 lakh crore, including significant funding for key initiatives: Rs 9,407 crore for the Talliki Vandanam scheme, Rs 6,300 crore for the Annadata Sukhibhava programme and Rs 400 crore for fishermen assistance.

Keshav stated, “I propose an expenditure of Rs 3,22,359 crore, with the revenue expenditure estimated at Rs 2,51,162 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 40,635 crore. The estimated revenue deficit is around Rs 33,185 crore and the fiscal deficit around Rs 79,926 crore.

Interestingly, the alliance government showed enhanced revenue receipts of Rs 2,17,977 crore, which was Rs 41,946 crore more than the Rs 1,76,031 crore of the 2024-25 revised budget estimates.

This is the first time that the government showed huge revenue estimates. The revenue receipts were Rs 1,57,768 in 2022-23 and Rs 1,73,767 in 2023-24.

Further, in non-tax revenue, the government showed Rs 19,199 crore -- which was Rs 12,1781 crore more compared to the Rs 7,018 crore of revised estimates in the 2024-25 budget.

Similarly, the public debt showed in the present budget was 35 per cent of the GSDP. Under public debt, the internal debt of the state government is Rs 81956,50.18 lakh and loans and advances from the central government were of Rs 21700 lakh. The total public debt is put at Rs 103656,50.18 lakh.

Tabling the budget estimates for the present fiscal, finance minister Keshav said, “We are presenting this budget in the backdrop of the financial destruction caused by the previous regime. We are not the only ones claiming that there was financial mismanagement in the past five years. NITI Aayog also stated that Andhra Pradesh's debt sustainability has reached zero.

This meant that AP was the only state that was not in a position to take more loans. It has crossed the ceiling. “But, all hope is not lost. If Hiroshima devastated by a nuclear attack could rise again, why can't we rebuild Andhra Pradesh after this economic devastation? This budget is prepared with this inspiration.”

Keshav said, “We have cleared liabilities of Rs 23,556 crore which was pending as on 12 June 2024. Some 93 central schemes were stopped. Out of these, we have restarted 74 schemes including NREGS, AMRUT, Jal Jeevan Mission and Samagra Siksha, by clearing liabilities of Rs 9,371 crore.”

He claimed that Economic growth was back on track. As per the first advance estimates for 2024-25, GSDP has grown at a rate of 12.94 per cent. “All key sectors have registered a strong performance - agriculture and allied activities have grown at 15.86 per cent, industries at 6.71 per cent and services at 11.70 per cent.

Keshav said, “ I propose to allocate Rs 13,487 crore for agriculture & allied sectors and Rs 3,806 crore for civil supplies; Welfare: Rs 20,281 crore for the SC component, Rs 8,159 crore for the ST component, Rs 47,456 crore for the BC component, Rs 5,434 crore for the welfare of minority communities, Rs 4,332 crore for women, children, differently abled and senior citizens welfare; Rs 1,228 crore for skill development and training; Rs 31,805 crore for school education; Rs 2,506 crore for higher education.”

Regarding health, the FM stated, “ I propose to allocate Rs 19,264 crore for health, medical & family welfare. The previous government had neglected the Smart LED street lighting programme. This has been revived by paying Rs 150 crore towards the pending bills.”

The allocation is Rs 18,847 crore for Panchayati Raj & rural development, Rs 13,862 crore to the department of municipal administration & urban development, Rs 6,318 crore to housing, Rs 18,019 crore for water resources, Rs 3,156 crore to the industries & commerce department, Rs 13,600 crore to the energy department, Rs 8,785 crore to the transport, roads and buildings department, Rs 469 crore to youth advancement, tourism and culture and Rs 8,570 crore for the home department.

For the first time, Rs 10 crore was earmarked for development and promotion of the Telugu language and Rs 10 crore for Navodayam.