House passes Rs 28k cr budget for 2025-26, CM adds Rs 985.5 cr

Porvorim: After a stormy 15-day discussion on the state budget, the House on Friday passed chief minister Pramod Sawant’s financial statement for the current financial year. Sawant outlined the key steps that will be taken in the financial year through the budgetary allocation, including the implementation of the unified pension scheme for govt employees.

In his budget speech presented in March, Sawant pegged the budgetary outlay for this year at Rs 28,162 crore. However, on Friday, the chief minister increased the budget size by 3.5% through a supplementary demand for grants.

Sawant sought and obtained the approval of the House to spend an additional Rs 985.5 crore, taking the total budget for the current year to Rs 29,147.5 crore.

“Of the additional funds, Rs 268.6 crore will be for revenue expenditure and Rs 717.4 crore will be for capital expenditure. We expected the total special assistance of Rs 900 crore from the Centre under the scheme for special assistance to states for capital expenditure. However, the guidelines were circulated in April, and Goa is eligible for more assistance to the extent of Rs 1,600 crore. The additional Rs 700 crore may be used for capital outlay,” said Sawant.

Last year, Goa obtained more than Rs 1,200 crore under the scheme for special assistance to states for capital expenditure, while this year, Goa has already drawn Rs 400 crore through the scheme.

“With this, the fiscal deficit will increase by Rs 600 crore to Rs 3,400 crore against the projection made in the initial budget. The fiscal deficit will stay within the limits,” said Sawant. “The supplementary budget provisions are being taken for development works.”

Sawant said that govt has allocated Rs 100 crore to be spent in each constituency of the state. The funds will be utilised to improve the road network, water supply, electricity infrastructure, sewerage infrastructure, and waste management.