Face2News/Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Minister, Sh Nayab Singh Saini, dedicated his first budget as Finance Minister to the number 11, which holds significance in Indian culture. In his reply to the Budget speech, he outlined 11 key resolutions for the financial year 2025-26 and expressed his gratitude to the people of the state for electing him as the 11th 'Mukhya Sevak' of Haryana.
Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, while addressing the media persons at the Haryana Vidhan Sabha today, stated that in the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and with the tireless efforts of Sh. Manohar Lal, Haryana has achieved new milestones in development. He further emphasized that through this Budget, the state has accelerated its 11-year journey of progress threefold.
He said that the opposition was merely performing a formality in the House, as they had no real issues to raise. He added that in the last 11 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, Haryana has experienced significant positive changes. Revolutionary transformations have taken place in the state, and the people who once suffered from fear, corruption, and scams have found great relief. The people of Haryana have wholeheartedly supported this positive change and given mandate for a third consecutive term in the state.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini while strongly refuting the misleading statement of the opposition regarding the rising debt on citizens shared in the House, said that opposition first misleads citizens with false statements, creates unnecessary worry, and then pretends to care about them. He said that opposition should refrain from spreading baseless concerns to confuse and scare people. The Chief Minister said this while replying to questions raised by the opposition during the budget discussion in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini highlighted that there are 11 key initiatives in this Budget that will serve as milestones in the development of Haryana. These include the creation of the Department of Future, a plan to establish a Rs. 2000 crore Fund of Funds for startups, the formation of the 'Sankalp' Authority to combat drug abuse, the establishment of a task force for Mission Haryana 2047, a bill against those selling fake seeds and pesticides, the launch of Mahila Chaupal in villages, the announcement of cow sanctuaries in every district, the regularization of unauthorized industrial colonies, the establishment of a government model college in every district, the formation of a Disabled Fund, the provision of free bus travel for all disabled individuals, and an allocation of Rs. 5000 crore for the 'Lado Lakshmi Yojana' to support sisters.
He said that it is a coincidence that today marks the 11th day of the budget session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He went on to share that the total budget in the year 2014-15 was Rs. 73,301 crores, which has now risen to Rs. 2,05,017 crores for 2025-26. This represents an impressive 180 percent increase in the total budget over the past 10 years. Additionally, he highlighted that the per capita income in 2014-15 was Rs. 1,47,382, which has grown to Rs. 3,53,182 in 2024-25.
Similarly, the state's expenditure was Rs. 59,451 crore in 2014-15, which increased to Rs. 1,55,832 crore in 2024-25. The state's debt stood at Rs. 17,347 crore in 2004-05, rising to Rs. 96,875 crore in 2014-15. In comparison, this debt has increased almost only three times from the financial year 2014-15 to 2024-25.
Sh Nayab Singh Saini stated that during previous governments, there was widespread disappointment among the people of the state, accompanied by a sense of distrust towards the government. The youth felt frustrated, and there was a prevailing sense of insecurity among women, Scheduled Castes, and backward classes. He emphasized that this budget reflects the priorities and aspirations of every section of Haryana's population. It focuses not only on inclusive development but also places special emphasis on farmers, the poor, women, and youth.
The Chief Minister stated that with Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, and Sabka Prayas", our government is working three times faster to develop Haryana. He described this budget as a “Dhakad Budget of Dhakad Haryana,” highlighting that it introduces no new taxes or fees.
In reply to a question about the government declaring the gazetted holiday for Eid-ul-Fitr on March 31 as a Restricted Holiday, the Chief Minister clarified that he had already addressed this issue in the House and emphasized that it should not be made an issue. He said that since March 31 is the last day of the financial year, it is essential for departments to complete various financial transactions. He further assured that there is no restriction on anyone taking the Restricted Holiday. Wishing the people of the state on Eid ul-Fitr, he expressed that festivals are sacred to all of us, and we should celebrate them together in harmony.
Director General, Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department, Sh K. Makarand Pandurang and Media Secretary, Sh Praveen Attrey were also present on this occasion.M
Meanwhile Sh. Nayab Singh Saini while strongly refuting the misleading statement of the opposition regarding the rising debt on citizens shared in the House, said that opposition first misleads citizens with false statements, creates unnecessary worry, and then pretends to care about them. He said that opposition should refrain from spreading baseless concerns to confuse and scare people.
The Chief Minister said this while replying to questions raised by the opposition during the budget discussion in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today.
Sh. Nayab Singh Saini clarified that personal loans, agricultural loans, and industrial loans mentioned by the opposition are not included in the government's debt. According to the 2025-26 budget estimates, the total debt liability is projected at Rs. 3,52,819 crore, which constitutes 26.18 percent of the GSDP—well within the 15th Finance Commission's prescribed limit of 32.5 percent.
The Chief Minister also addressed the repeated claim of the opposition that every citizen of the state bears a debt of Rs. 2 lakh. He challenged opposition members to present at least 5-10 people who have received calls from banks asking them to repay a loan taken by the Haryana government. He asserted that any debt taken by the government will be repaid by the government itself.
*By the end of the year 2025-26, the revenue deficit will be less than one percent- CM*
The Chief Minister said that the present state government is working at triple the speed and is making efforts to reduce the revenue deficit. By the end of the year 2025-26, the revenue deficit will be less than one percent.
He further shared that during the Congress regime, the revenue deficit in 2014-15 was 1.90 percent of the state GSDP, whereas, under their tenure, it was estimated at just 1.09 percent in the last financial year. According to the 15th Central Finance Commission, the fiscal deficit should remain within the 3 percent limit. In the financial year 2024-25, it is estimated to be 2.68 percent of the state GDP, and in the budget for 2025-26, it is expected to be 2.67 percent, shared Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
The Chief Minister informed that loans are taken only within the limits set by the Central Finance Commission. In the budget for 2025-26, the state's debt-to-GSDP ratio stands at just 26.18 percent compared to the prescribed limit of 32.5 percent.