Lucknow’s legislative assembly witnessed a landmark moment as Finance Minister Suresh Khanna unveiled the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2026-27, totaling a staggering Rs 9,12,696.35 crore. This represents a robust 12.9% increase over the previous year, signaling the state’s commitment to accelerated development.
The budget places unprecedented emphasis on capital expenditure, which accounts for 19.5% of the total outlay. Education receives 12.4%, healthcare 6%, and agriculture-related sectors 9%. Adhering to the 16th Finance Commission’s guidelines, the fiscal deficit target stands at 3% for 2026-27, a discipline set to continue until 2030-31.
Financial prudence remains a cornerstone. The debt-to-GSDP ratio, which was 29.3% in 2016-17, dipped to 27.9% by 2019-20. Despite a COVID-induced spike to 33.4% in 2021-22, it has been reined in below 27% for 2024-25. Ambitious plans aim to bring it down to 23.1% by 2026-27 and under 20% in the medium term.
Law and order takes center stage with massive investments in police infrastructure. Crime rates have plummeted: dacoity down 89%, robbery 85%, murders 47%, riots 70%, and kidnappings for ransom 62% compared to 2016 levels. Crimes against women and atrocities on scheduled castes and tribes have also seen significant declines.
Allocations include Rs 1,374 crore for non-residential police buildings and Rs 1,243 crore for residential ones. New districts get Rs 346 crore for construction, fire stations Rs 200 crore, and high-rise fire safety enhancements Rs 190 crore. Under Mission Shakti, Rs 25 crore is earmarked for vehicles for women beat officers.
Medical education receives a whopping Rs 14,997 crore. Currently, 81 medical colleges operate in the state—45 government and 36 private. Plans are afoot to establish colleges in 16 underdeveloped districts via PPP mode. MBBS seats have surged from 4,540 in 2017 to 12,800, and PG seats from 1,221 to 4,995. Rs 1,023 crore is proposed for 14 new colleges, Rs 315 crore for Lucknow’s Cancer Institute, and Rs 130 crore for free treatment of critical illnesses.
The health department’s budget swells to Rs 37,956 crore, up 15% from last year. National Rural Health Mission gets Rs 8,641 crore, and Ayushman Bharat Rs 2,000 crore. Over 49.22 lakh families benefit from the Ayushman Bharat-Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Yojana. All 75 districts now run the National Mental Health Programme, with an integrated disease surveillance portal ensuring vigilant monitoring.
This budget masterfully balances fiscal discipline with infrastructure growth and social welfare investments, paving the way for a stronger, healthier Uttar Pradesh.