By Firstdespatch Desk Mar 21, 2025
Agartala, Mar 21 (FD) Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singharoy on Friday presented a tax-free deficit budget of Rs. 32,423 crores.
It is not mentioned in the budget speech that how the government will cover the deficit of Rs. 429 crores, but there is an indication that the deficit can be covered from higher receipt from the 16th finance commission to manage the debt burden and deficit.
Singharoy in his budget speech said that state’s income from tax revenue has been estimated at Rs. 4010 crores and the estimated receipt from non-tax revenue is 504 crores. He said that there was a major boost in the capital expenditure for overall growth of economy through infrastructure building and the expenditure has been projected at Rs.7903 crores.
“More focus was given on capital expenditure in the budget by allocating ₹7,903 crore which is ₹7,000 crore in the budget for 2024-25. The focus on capital expenditure will boost infrastructure building and generate employment for the youth,” he said.
The budget has put emphasis for development of agriculture and education sectors. When the agriculture sector was given a boost of 9.49% increase, the education sector was given a priority with an increase of 11.94 %.
The finance minister said that quality coaching centres would be built up in different parts of the state for competitive examinations and the government would build up a centre for computer based examinations here with a cost Rs.15 crore.
‘Bharat Mata Canteen cum Night shelter’ in the capital city for stay of commoners from different places and a budgetary sanction of Rs. 2 crores were made for this, which would be run by the Agartala Municipal Corporation.
The finance minister also proposed a scheme for mentally challenged persons, who will be given a monthly pension of Rs.5, 000.
In his budget speech he also mentioned, “We inherited a debt of Rs. 12,903 crores from the Left’s regime. Now we are trying to repay the loans. For the coming fiscal the state could borrow Rs.1225 crore as per Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management”.
The budget also allocated a new scheme of Rs. 10 crores titled as ‘Mukhya Mantri Kanya Vikash Yojana’ in which the state government will provide a onetime grant of Rs. 50 thousand for marriage of girls belonging to ‘Antoday’ category. FD JK