Madhya Pradesh's ₹4.38-trn Budget focuses on farmers and women's welfare

Madhya Pradesh has presented a ₹4.38 trillion Budget for 2026-27, with major allocations for farmers, women, rural development and infrastructure, while avoiding new taxes

Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Jagdish Deora on Wednesday tabled ₹438,317 crore Budget for the financial year 2026-27, with emphasis on the poor, youth, farmers, women, and infrastructure.

 

More than ₹3 trillion has been allocated for these sectors. The budget, which is third for the Mohan Yadav-led government, does not mention any new taxes.

 

Out of this, ₹127,555 crore has been earmarked for women’s welfare, ₹1.15 trillion for agriculture and farmers, and ₹59,347 crore for infrastructure. The state government has declared 2026 as Farmers’ Welfare Year, which is clearly reflected in the Budget.

 

For the flagship Ladli Behna Yojana, ₹23,882 crore has been allocated. Panchayat and Rural Development has received ₹40,062 crore, G Ram G  Yojana has got ₹10,428 crore, and Jal Jeevan Mission ₹4,454 crore. A special provision of ₹3,060 crore has been made for the Simhastha Kumbh to be held in 2028. 

 

 

In addition, the government has announced a target of providing solar pumps to 100,000 farmers.

 

The finance minister also termed this as the state’s first rolling budget. Unlike the traditional annual budget, a rolling budget does not only account for the financial year, but also includes estimates and targets for the next 2–3 years. It functions more like a dynamic plan than a static document.

 

Devendra Vishwakarma, economist and chairman of the Youth Economic Council, told Business Standard, “The state government has dedicated the year 2026–27 to rural and agricultural development, which is clearly visible in the Budget. Many schemes related to rural and agricultural development have been funded. However, the neglect of large industries is also evident in this Budget.”

 

Chartered Accountant Jai Nagpal termed the budget a green budget, saying that it includes several environmental initiatives. He said, “The budget mentions the introduction of 972 new e-buses, while about 472 e-buses are already in operation. In addition, the announcement to purchase e-vehicles for all government departments and to provide solar pumps to 100,000 farmers is part of this same process.”

 

However, opposition parties criticised the budget in view of the state’s worrying financial condition. Jaswinder Singh, state secretary of the CPI(M), said, “Just a day before the budget session began, the state had taken a loan of ₹5,700 crore. In such a situation, what can one expect from the Budget?”

 

Former chief minister and Congress leader Kamal Nath also described the budget as a betrayal of the people.