Chhattisgarh Unveils ₹1.72 Lakh Crore Budget for 2026–27

Raipur, February 24, 2026: Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary on Tuesday presented a ₹1,72,000 crore budget for the 2026–27 financial year, marking an increase from ₹1,65,000 crore in the previous fiscal. The government said the plan focuses on accelerating economic growth while ensuring inclusive and regionally balanced development.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated that the budget is structured to extend the benefits of development to farmers, women, youth, Scheduled Tribes, and other vulnerable sections without compromising fiscal discipline.

The state’s Gross State Domestic Product is projected at ₹7,09,553 crore for 2026–27, reflecting a 12.4 percent rise over the previous year’s estimate of ₹6,31,290 crore.

Total receipts and expenditure have both been estimated at ₹1,72,000 crore. Revenue expenditure stands at ₹1,45,000 crore. The fiscal deficit is projected at ₹20,400 crore, equivalent to 2.87 percent of GSDP, while the revenue deficit is estimated at ₹2,000 crore.

The government has earmarked ₹6,700 crore for energy subsidies, including free electricity for agricultural pumps up to 5 HP and relief measures for domestic consumers.

Housing and tribal welfare also received significant attention. ₹4,000 crore has been allocated for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to support rural housing, while ₹720 crore has been set aside for the PM Janman Yojana targeting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups.

In sector-wise spending, school education has been allotted ₹22,380 crore, panchayat and rural development ₹16,560 crore, agriculture ₹13,507 crore, and health and medical education ₹8,050 crore.

The budget also introduces several new flagship initiatives, including an AI Mission, Sports Excellence Mission, Tourism Development Mission, Infrastructure Mission, and Startup and NIPUN Mission. The government has committed to allocating at least ₹100 crore annually to each of these programmes over the next five years.

Choudhary noted that the state’s budget has expanded 35 times since Chhattisgarh was formed in 2000, when the outlay stood at ₹4,944 crore. He described the 2026–27 financial plan as a roadmap to combine economic expansion with social equity and balanced regional progress.