Odisha's surplus budget focuses on agriculture, education and health

In the last full budget before the assembly elections next year, the Naveen Patnaik government in Odisha presented a budget with focus on agriculture, healthcare, education and the welfare schemes for the people.

Odisha finance minister Niranjan Pujari said the state has grown at an average of 8.1 per cent for the past eight years while presenting the budget. Odisha is one of the few states with surplus revenue of ₹26,739 crore accounting for 3.1 per cent of the GSDP. The state has planned to generate Rs 1,05,500 crore from the state's own tax and non-tax revenue totalling 46 per cent of the total budget expenditure and rest of the 54 per cent comes from the Centre as grants, share of tax revenue and central schemes.

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has been focusing on agriculture, healthcare and industrial growth by running several state government schemes. In the budget, the allocation for each sector has been increased. The highest allocation of ₹24,829 crore has been made for piped water connection to households.


There has been a 21 per cent increase in the agriculture budget. To ensure timely payment to paddy farmers during procurement season the government has announced a revolving fund of ₹2,000 crore. The state has just hosted the Men's Hockey World Cup event and the government has indicated to spend more in creating sports infrastructure. An amount of Rs 1,217 crore has been allocated for sports marking a 34 percent increase. There is a 27 per cent increase in the health budget and 10 per cent increase in the education budget. A new scholarship scheme for meritorious students in which 10,000 undergraduate students will get Rs 10,000 per year. Apart from that 200 students will be selected for free coaching for civil services examination and the state government will provide them with lodging and food along with education.