Supplementary Budget Passed in Himachal Pradesh – Key Allocations Revealed

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Approves Rs 40,461.95 Crore Supplementary Budget for 2025-26​

Shimla, March 19 – The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday approved a supplementary budget of Rs 40,461.95 crore for the financial year 2025-26. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presented the supplementary demands in the Assembly, and the proposal was passed through a voice vote.

Allocation Under State Schemes​

Of the total supplementary outlay, Rs 36,374.61 crore has been earmarked for state schemes. Key allocations include:

• Rs 26,194.95 crore for 'Ways and Means' and overdrafts
• Rs 4,150.14 crore for power generation and conversion of loans provided to the Electricity Board under the UDAY scheme into equity
• Rs 818.20 crore for natural disaster relief
• Rs 785.22 crore for water supply and sewerage projects
• Rs 657.22 crore for health initiatives, including Himcare, Sahara Scheme, robotic surgery facilities at medical colleges, advanced testing laboratories, procurement of PET scanners, construction works at medical colleges and hospitals, and providing power supply to AIIMS Bilaspur

Under Special Central Assistance, Rs 555.89 crore has been allocated for infrastructure projects, including shopping complexes at vegetable markets, bus stands, flyovers, and underground utility ducts.

Additional allocations include:

• Rs 453.63 crore for road maintenance, bridges, rural road construction, and compensation
• Rs 443.33 crore for subsidies to the Himachal Road Transport Corporation in lieu of fare concessions for various passenger categories
• Rs 192.20 crore for road construction and procurement of machinery and equipment for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Battalion Headquarters in Behna, Mandi

Allocation Under Centrally Sponsored Schemes​

For centrally sponsored schemes, Rs 4,087.34 crore has been proposed, primarily for ongoing and new development projects supported by central financial assistance. Major allocations include:

• Rs 2,453.97 crore for disaster management
• Rs 688.40 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
• Rs 352.18 crore as compensation for persons displaced by the Renukaji Dam project

Political Reactions​

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticized the supplementary budget, noting that it represents 70 per cent of the total outlay. He said the move contradicts Chief Minister Sukhu’s earlier emphasis on "Fiscal Prudence, Fiscal Management, and Fiscal Discipline" and undermines his promise of Vyavastha Parivartan (change in system).

Mr. Thakur argued that the high additional expenditure indicates a lack of confidence in the government's original budget estimates and demanded clarification on the source of the additional funds.

Last year, on March 17, CM Sukhu had presented a Rs 58,514 crore budget for 2025-26 with a focus on tourism, rural development, and green energy.