MP 2026‑27 budget: Rs 4.38 lakh crore outlay focuses on welfare, health and growth

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Devda on Wednesday presented the state budget for 2026‑27 in the Assembly, unveiling a total outlay of Rs 4,38,317 crore , an increase of around Rs 17,000 crore from last year’s Rs 4.21 lakh crore . The presentation was marked by interruptions from the Opposition, who expressed concern over the rising debt burden on the state’s residents.

Chairing a cabinet meeting ahead of the budget, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav described the 2026‑27 budget as historic , emphasizing that it reflects the government’s commitment to progress while ensuring inclusive development. “This budget is dedicated to the welfare of the poor, youth, farmers, and women, along with measures to expand industrial activities,” he said.

The budget focuses on key sectors with major allocations including urban development and housing (₹21,562 crore), healthcare (₹23,747 crore), social welfare and women’s schemes , agriculture and rural development (₹5,500 crore) , and roads and connectivity (₹12,690 crore). Highlights include continued support for the Ladli Behna scheme , recruitment of teachers, expansion of healthcare facilities, metro and electric bus projects, solar irrigation pumps for farmers, and no new taxes, aiming to combine welfare with sustainable growth.

Before the budget session, Congress MLAs, led by Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar , staged a protest at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue within the legislature complex. They carried empty piggy banks and placards criticizing the government’s economic policies. Singhar alleged that the government’s borrowing of Rs 5,600 crore even before the budget session indicates a growing financial burden on the state. “The government is living on borrowed public money and is creating only illusions under the guise of development,” he claimed.

The new budget sets the tone for Madhya Pradesh’s fiscal planning in 2026‑27, balancing social welfare initiatives with industrial and infrastructure growth while navigating criticism over the state’s rising debt levels.