Himachal Assembly Clears ₹58,830 Crore Budget
The Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Monday swiftly passed a revised budget of ₹58,830.67 crore for the financial year 2026–27 — an increase of nearly ₹3,903 crore from the original outlay presented earlier this month. Remarkably, the budget was cleared through a voice vote in just three minutes, without any disruption or detailed debate.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had first presented a ₹54,928 crore budget on March 21. The upward revision reflects adjustments made against the backdrop of mounting debt, rising revenue expenditure, and limited avenues for generating resources.
A large share of the budget continues to be absorbed by committed liabilities such as salaries, pensions, and debt servicing. The Finance Department alone accounts for ₹19,380.81 crore in revenue expenditure and ₹4,842.19 crore in capital expenditure.
Education has emerged as the biggest priority, with ₹8,848.86 crore allocated for revenue expenditure. Health, however, has received a relatively modest ₹2,704.54 crore for revenue and just ₹3.519 crore for capital investment, raising concerns about whether healthcare infrastructure is being adequately strengthened.
Infrastructure spending includes ₹2,481.76 crore for the Public Works Department and ₹2,385.30 crore for Irrigation, Water Supply, and Sanitation. Rural Development has been allocated ₹1,686.27 crore, while Agriculture has received ₹338.85 crore for revenue and ₹16.05 crore for capital expenditure.
Other allocations include ₹104.20 crore for Planning and Backward Areas Development, and ₹207.99 crore for the Power sector.
Compared to last year, the figures show fiscal strain. In 2025–26, the budget was initially pegged at ₹58,514 crore but later revised upward to ₹62,387 crore. This year’s final figure remains lower, signaling tighter financial conditions.
The speed of passage and the scale of allocations highlight both the urgency and the challenges facing Himachal Pradesh’s finances — balancing essential services with the weight of debt and limited revenue growth.
