The Finance Minister (FM) of Gujarat, Kanubhai Desai presented Rs 3,32,465 crore state budget for the financial year 2024-25 (FY25) in the Gujarat Assembly House in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. It was the highest-ever budget presented in the history of Gujarat.
- The state proposes no new taxes.
- This budget has given priority to Garib (Poor), Yuva (Youth), Annadata (Farmer) and Nari Shakti (Women Power)
- It reflects the road map of Viksit Gujarat 2047 under the Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 Sankalpana.
- The growth rate of Gujarat is 14.9%.
Highlights:
i.Gujarat government’s FY25 fiscal plan unveiled with Rs 146.72 crore surplus budget.
ii.Developmental expenditure allocated at Rs 2.14 lakh crore (64.4%); non-developmental expenditure at Rs 83,000 crore (25.1%).
iii.Sabarmati Riverfront extension announced from Ahmedabad to near GIFT-City (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City), Gandhinagar, spanning 38.2 kilometers, thus will become the world’s longest riverfront.
- Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the same.
- Phases 4 and 5 of the riverfront to be developed from Indira Bridge to Gandhinagar.
iv.The budget estimates for 2024-25 includes Revenue Receipts of Rs 229653.17crore, Revenue Expenditure of Rs 219831.89 crore, Capital Receipts of Rs 95292.12 crore, and Capital Expenditure of Rs 108615.17 crore.
Notable Allocations:
i.20,000 anganwadis in Gujarat to be made smart, and 8,000 new anganwadis to be made with a total budget provision of Rs 55,114 crore.
ii.Rs 22,196 crore for Agriculture, Farmers and Cooperation Department
iii.Rs 6193 crore provided for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
iv.Rs 55,114 crore has been provided for the education department in the budget.
v.Rs 1,400 crore under PM (Prime Minister) Nutrition Scheme.
vi.Rs 20,100 crore given to Department of Health and Family Welfare
vii.Rs 6193 crore for the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment
viii.Rs 22,163 crore for road and building department
ix.Rs 6,885 crore for Women and Child Development Department
Relief for Farmers and Fishermen:
- Modernization of fish production centers with a budget of Rs 627 crore.
- Allocation of Rs 463 crore for fishermen’s relief and Rs 134 crore for fisheries industry development.
- Relaxation in high-speed diesel tax for farmers.
Development of Gandhinagar Gift City:
- GIFT City to be expanded from 900 acre to 3300 acre area.
- Planned ‘Walk to Work, Live and Play’ concept with riverfront development.
- Provision for metro connectivity, Central Park facilities, and ‘Fin-Tech’ hub with Rs 52 crore allocation.
Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 Abhiyan:
- Budget increase to Rs 2500 crore from Rs 1300 crore for solid and liquid waste management.
- Implementation with public cooperation, focusing on environmental sustainability.
Health and Education Allocations:
- Rs 76 crore allocated for the procurement of 319 ambulances, strengthening health services with Rs 20,100 crore allotted to Department of Health and Family Welfare.
- Rs 55,114 crore provided for education department.
- Rs 3,000 crore for Mission School of Excellence 2.0.
- Morbi and Kutch to get new Agricultural universities. Khedbrahma will get a new Agriculture Engineering University.
Student Welfare Schemes:
- Allocation of Rs 504 crore for PM Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India (YASASVI).
- Rs 360 crore for scholarships to 40 lakh Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Caste students
- Rs 600 crore for educational loans to non-reserved classes.
- Rs 84 crore to provide free bicycles to 1.5 lakh girls under the Saraswati Sadhana Yojana.
- Rs 260 crore provided for transport assistance to 1 lakh students of class 9 to 12.
Other Key Announcements:
i.NaMo Saraswati Yojana: It was announced for promoting education in science stream courses. Its outlay is estimated at Rs 250 crore.
- Under this, eligible poor and middle-class students studying in science stream of higher secondary schools will be assisted Rs 10,000 in class 11 and Rs 15,000 in Class 12.
- The number of students in the science stream is expected to increase from 2 lakh to 5 lakh annually in the next five years, which could potentially increase the cost approximately to Rs 400 crore.
ii.Namo Shree Yojana: It is for pregnant and lactating mothers. An allocation of Rs 750 crore has been made for the scheme.
- Under this Yojana, the pregnant women with poor economic conditions will get the financial support of Rs 12000 for the nourishment of the baby.
- Pregnant women of 11 categories including Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), of the state are eligible to avail the benefits of this scheme.
iii.Namo Lakshmi Yojana: Under this, Girls from Class 9 to Class 10 will get monetary assistance to promote their nutrition, health and education
- About 10 lakh eligible girl students in government, aided and private secondary and higher secondary schools will be given an assistance of Rs 10,000 per annum for Class-9 and 10 and Rs 15,000 per annum for Class-11 and 12.
iv.Gujarat steers towards the vision of becoming 5-G Gujarat:
- Garvu Gujarat
- Gunvantu Gujarat
- Green Gujarat
- Global Gujarat
- Gatishil Gujarat
Suposhit Gujarat Mission has been introduced to prioritize the health of mothers and children, ensuring a healthy and future generation under 5-G Gujarat mission.
v.Seven municipalities viz. Navsari, Gandhidham, Morbi, Vapi, Anand, Mehsana, and Surendranagar/Vadhwan will be established as Municipal Corporation to facilitate the planned development of cities.
vi.1100 Jan Rakshak vehicles to be provided under the Janrakshak Yojana scheme.
- There will be Centralized system for 112 numbers, a single number for police, and fire brigade.
vii.Setting up of a School of Semiconductor at Sanad and a manufacturing hub for space sector at Khoraj near Ahmedabad.
- Rs 33 crore was allocated for the School of Semiconductor in partnership with Micron.
ix.Cancer hospital in Ahmedabad to get Cyclotron Proton centre.
Recent Related News:
i.On October 24, 2023, India‘s first Nano Di-Ammonia Phosphate (DAP–Liquid) plant was inaugurated by the Union Minister Amit Shah, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Kalol in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
ii.Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan worth USD 181 million to build quality infrastructure and services in the peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad, Gujarat to control urban sprawl.
About Gujarat:
Chief Minister– Bhupendra Patel
Governor– Acharya Devvrat
National Parks– Marine National Park, Vansda National Park
