The North News
Shimla, March 17
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday presented a tax-free budget of ₹58,514 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal year in the Vidhan Sabha. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a series of welfare and development initiatives, including financial support for young women, infrastructure projects, and a disaster response system.
While presenting the budget, Himachal Chief Minister Sukhu said that under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana, girls turning 21 between January 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, will receive ₹1,500 per month. Women working as domestic helpers will also be eligible from June 1, 2025, with their daughters entitled to the same amount. The Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana will provide ₹25,000 insurance for two daughters born into Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, he added.
The state government has allocated ₹3 crore for the Sainik School in Sujanpur, while ₹100 crore has been set aside for the Chief Minister Road Scheme. NABARD will support the construction of 50 roads and bridges in 2025-26. To improve disaster response, a Disaster Response Operations System will be established across 3,645 panchayats, with a ₹892 crore five-year plan focused on climate change mitigation.
As part of its social security initiatives, the government will add 37,000 new beneficiaries, with ₹67 crore additional funding. People with 40% or more disability will now be eligible for pensions. In Shimla, luxury buses will be introduced to reduce private vehicle use, and incentives for inter-caste marriages will increase from ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh.
The government is also planning to introduce drone taxi services for agriculture, healthcare, and logistics, with drone stations in Mandi, Hamirpur, and Kangra. Industries consuming 33 kV or more electricity will receive power subsidies. A Chief Minister-led board will be formed to combat drug abuse.
A ₹2,400 crore tourism project will be implemented in two phases across Manali, Kullu, Nadaun, Naggar, Baba Balak Nath Temple, Nagrota Bagwan, and Palampur. Additionally, young entrepreneurs purchasing food vans will receive a 30% subsidy.
