Himachal Pradesh News
Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Tables ₹40,462 Crore Supplementary Budget — Here’s Why It’s Raising Eyebrows
In a move that has sparked political debate, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday presented a massive supplementary budget of ₹40,461.95 crore in the Vidhan Sabha for the financial year 2025–26.
In a move that has sparked political debate, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday presented a massive supplementary budget of 40,461.95 crore in the Vidhan Sabha for the financial year 2025–26.
What makes this development noteworthy is its size. Just days earlier, on March 17, 2025, the state government had already announced a full budget of ₹58,514 crore. The new supplementary demand is nearly 70% of that amount — a sharp jump compared to last year’s ₹17,053 crore.
📊 Where is the money going?
According to the Chief Minister, a major portion — 36,374.61 crore — is allocated to state schemes, while 4,087.34 crore is set aside for Centrally-sponsored initiatives.
A significant chunk of the expenditure is aimed at managing the state’s financial obligations:
- 26,194.95 crore for repayment of loans, overdrafts, and Ways and Means advances
- 4,150.14 crore for power subsidy
Apart from this, funds have also been directed toward essential public services:
- 818.20 crore for disaster relief
- 785.22 crore for water supply and sanitation
- 657.22 crore for healthcare schemes like HIMCARE, SAHARA, and robotic surgery facilities
🌧️ Focus on disaster management & infrastructure
Under Centrally-sponsored schemes, key allocations include:
- 2,453.97 crore for disaster management under the National Disaster Response Fund
- 688 crore for rural roads under PMGSY
- 352.18 crore for compensation related to the Renukaji Dam project
These figures indicate the government’s focus on rebuilding infrastructure and supporting people affected by natural calamities.
⚡ Opposition raises tough questions
However, the scale of the supplementary budget has raised eyebrows, especially from Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur.
He questioned how a supplementary demand could reach nearly 70% of the main budget, warning that it could push the total size of the state’s budget close to ₹1 lakh crore.
Thakur also alleged procedural lapses, claiming that the document was not shared with members before being passed. According to him, the budget was “rushed through,” raising concerns about transparency.
🧠 CM Sukhu’s clarification
Responding to the criticism, CM Sukhu clarified that the spike is not due to increased spending but because of temporary borrowing.
He explained that the government relied on Ways and Means advances — a short-term borrowing method — after the withdrawal of Revenue Deficit Grants (RDG). These loans carry lower interest rates compared to overdrafts, helping reduce financial pressure on the state.
The Chief Minister also dismissed claims that the budget size has ballooned to ₹98,000 crore, calling such figures “misleading” and asserting that all financial transactions have been accounted for transparently.
