The Meghalaya government has expressed gratitude for a “development-oriented” Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman today and said the initiatives announced will foster growth and aid in realising the Chief Minister’s vision of doubling the GSDP and becoming a 10 billion USD economy.
The Additional Secretary, Finance in an official statement said the total share of tax devolution to Meghalaya has increased from Rs 9566.09 crore to Rs 9870.40 crore as per the Revised Estimates 2024-25 announced by the Union Government. The Budget Estimates for 2025-26 is Rs 10910.14 crore, an increase of Rs 1039.74 crore from the Revised Estimates of 2024-25.
Pointing out that the continuation of Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment with an outlay of Rs. 1.5 lakh crore will further accelerate the infrastructure development in Meghalaya, the government informed that in 2023-24, the State has utilised more than Rs 1300 crore under the scheme and in 2024-25 the utilisation is expected to be more than Rs 2,000 crores.
The government said that the budget has laid the path for ‘Viksit Bharat’ by focusing on 10 broad areas and leveraging four engines of growth—Agriculture, MSMEs, Investments and Exports.
The statement said the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana, Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme; setting up of day-care cancer centres will benefit Meghalaya.
The increased allocations for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 along with enhancement in the cost norms for nutritional support will help the State in addressing the challenges of malnourishment and stunting. Along with the ECD Mission of Meghalaya this will ensure a better future for the children, the government said.
The plan to develop 50 tourist destinations across India in coordination with the States will complement Meghalaya’s investments and efforts in developing world class tourist infrastructure while the increase in credit guarantee cover for MSMEs along with the incentives offered by Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy will help youth and entrepreneurs, the statement said.
The State government also said that Meghalaya will explore avenues to utilise the IIPDF (India Infrastructure Project Development Fund) scheme for accelerating the infrastructure development and employment creation.
It also praised the announced measures to strengthen the cooperative sector by supporting the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and said that this move is expected to enhance financial assistance within the cooperative ecosystem, providing much needed capital to fuel growth and development.
The extension of broadband connectivity to all government secondary and primary schools for better access to digital learning resources will further add to the State government’s interventions in providing e-learning resources in Meghalaya and will not only improve educational outcomes but also enhance employability of our students, the government said.
