AP budget outlay at Rs 3.22 L cr; med insurance of Rs 25L to all

The budget has addressed developmental activities, Super Six and other manifesto promises. The budget has sown seeds to realise Swarna Andhra Vision 2047. It is a growth-oriented budget along with allocations for welfare activities. He said “we wholeheartedly welcome the allocation of `42,635 crore for the capital expenditure apart from Amaravati and Polavaram projects. - Potluri Bhaskara Rao, AP Chambers president

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav on Friday presented the budget for 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs3.22 lakh crore by making a provision for providing Rs25 lakh medical insurance to all.

Highest- ever annual outlay has been proposed for the State. This is also for the first time that the allocation has crossed Rs3 lakh crore mark due to commitments made towards Super Six Guarantees. Incidentally, this is the first full-fledged budget by the coalition. The Finance Minister announced the allocation of Rs11,636 crore for agriculture, Rs10,909 crore for social welfare, Rs10,619 crore for economically weaker sections and Rs 8,785 crore for transport. Revenue expenditure has been put at Rs2.51 lakh crore, revenue deficit pegged at Rs33,185 crore and fiscal deficit is put at Rs79,926 crore. The capital expenditure has been put at Rs40,635 crore. While describing the budget as growth-oriented, the Finance Minister squarely blamed the erstwhile YSRCP Government for ruining the State by indulging in fiscal indiscipline. He said anarchy prevailed during the previous regime.

The budget made several proposals for a time-bound rebuilding of Andhra Pradesh, It showed the way towards realization of ‘Swarnandhra Pradesh’ by 2047, the centenary year of Independence of the country. It instills confidence in the people of the State that the NDA Government will stand by them in the realization of their hopes and aspirations for which they

gave a massive mandate in the last elections, the Finance Minister said.

The budget has made huge allocations for priority sectors like welfare of various sections of the people, agriculture, education,

health, skill development, infrastructure promotion through increased allocation for capital expenditure.

Human Resource Development has been accorded priority in the Budget for 2025-26. Health sector has been allocated Rs19,264 crore which accounts for about 6 per cent of total budget allocation and an increase of about 4 per cent over that of 2024-25. Allocation for Health for 2025-26 marks an increase of 29 per cent over the allocation for 2023-24.

Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced that Health Insurance for Rs.25 lakh for all in the State will be introduced during the financial year 2025-26, Rs4,000 crore has been allocated for Dr.NTR Vaidya Seva, Rs.2,299 crore for National Health Mission and Rs1,158 crore for Pradhan Manti Ayushman Bharat Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM).

Earlier, the Cabinet meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu discussed the thrust areas to give push towards achieving $2.41 trillion economy by 2047 with a growth rate of 15 per cent.

Speaking on the budget at the TDLP meeting later, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu despite financial challenges thrown up by the YSRCP regime, the TDP-led coalition has presented the budget with emphasis on welfare and growth. Cautioning the MLAs to discharge their responsibilities in ensuring proper utilisation of funds, he asked them to work in tandem with MPs and avoid internal conflicts.

YSRCP Leader of Opposition in Council Botcha Satyanarayana and former Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath strongly criticised the coalition for resorting to jugglery of figures stating that the budget outlay has belied the expectations.