Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday, said that the state Budget embodies the spirit of “priority to the deprived”, and was dedicated to uplift the poor, farmers, youth and women in line with the vision of ‘Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah’.

Chief Minister Yogi made this remark while addressing a press conference following the presentation of the 2025-26 Budget in the UP assembly by Finance Minister Suresh Khanna.

Detailing key features of the Budget, the chief minister highlighted that by adopting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 5 Ts – Trade, Tourism, Technology, Tradition and Talent – as a guiding mantra, UP has transformed from a labour-driven state into a formidable economic powerhouse.

He said, “Once considered a BIMARU state, UP has emerged as a revenue-surplus state, setting new benchmarks in governance and development.”

“As Uttar Pradesh celebrates Amrit Mahotsav of the Constitution’s implementation and the state’s foundation anniversary – both milestones achieved in January 1950 – this budget not only honours the past 75 years of development but also lays the foundation for the next 25 years, shaping UP’s trajectory toward unprecedented growth,” he said.

The chief minister said, “The state government is establishing a Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial and Cultural Centre in Lucknow, which will serve as a hub for propagating his philosophy and advancing the constitutional principle of prioritising the deprived. A Sardar Patel District Economic Zone will be set up in every district over 100 acres under the PPP model to boost economic growth. The state will also establish 10 Sant Kabir Textile Parks and two Sant Ravidas Leather Parks on a PPP basis, further promoting employment and industrial expansion.”

Honouring former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth centenary, libraries will be built in urban areas in his memory. The 150th anniversary of the UP-Agriculture Department will be observed as ‘Seed Year’, with the establishment of a Seed Park at Attari Agricultural Field, Lucknow, in a tribute to Bharat Ratna Chaudhary Charan Singh, the champion of farmers, at a cost of Rs 251 crore.

Chief Minister Yogi said, “For the welfare of farmers, Mata Shabri canteens and rest houses will be set up in every agricultural market, providing meals at subsidised rates. Moreover, Rs 400 crore has been allocated for the Rani Laxmibai Scooty Yojana, ensuring merit-based scooty distribution to outstanding female students pursuing higher education.”

In support of working women, hostels named after Mata Ahilyabai Holkar will be built in Varanasi, Meerut, Prayagraj, Gorakhpur, Kanpur Nagar, Jhansi and Agra, creating safe and affordable accommodation.

Highlighting the economic growth, the chief minister pointed out that the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) has surged from Rs 12,89,000 crore in 2017-18 to an estimated Rs 27,51,000 crore in 2024-25. This progress was achieved despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted economies worldwide for three years, he added.

In 2016-17, UP ranked sixth in economic strength among Indian states; today, it stands at the second position. This achievement has been made possible by eliminating revenue leakages, leveraging technology and implementing innovative revenue collection methods. The government’s efforts in revenue mobilisation have been recognised nationwide, with financial experts also praising these initiatives, the chief minister added.

Chief Minister Yogi further emphasised the state’s fiscal discipline, noting that UP’s fiscal deficit is 2.9 per cent of its gross state domestic product (GSDP), well below the 3 per cent benchmark. This reflects the strong financial management of the state, he added.

He said, “NITI Aayog has placed Uttar Pradesh among the front-runner states in fiscal deficit management. Additionally, the state’s Physical Health Index has improved, and its capital expenditure ratio (1.8 per cent to 19.3 per cent) surpasses the national average.”

He said aligning with the Union Budget’s announcement, Cancer Day Care Centres will be set up in every district, with adequate financial provisions to ensure accessible cancer treatment across the state.

Chief Minister Yogi said, “We have provided Rs 1050 crore for four new expressways in this budget. Apart from this, Rs 700 crore has been proposed to construct two new bridges in Prayagraj. Development authorities and municipal bodies will construct convention centres at all divisional headquarters. Work will be done on constructing buildings for marriage celebrations and other social events in gram panchayats. About six crore people have been lifted out of poverty in UP. Besides, Rs 250 crore is proposed for the Zero Poverty Campaign in the 2025-26 Budget. Education, employment, and entrepreneurship are our government’s priorities.”

The minimum remuneration payable to the personnel working based on outsourcing will be increased from Rs 16,000 per month to Rs 20,000 per month. A non-profit organisation, Uttar Pradesh Outsource Service Corporation, will be formed to make the outsourcing process well-planned and transparent, while Rs 971 crore is proposed for an additional honorarium to Anganwadi workers and assistants, he added.

He said, “Rs 150 crore is proposed for developing tourism facilities in Ayodhya and Rs 100 crore for Mathura, while Rs 150 crore is proposed to construct and purchase land for Shri Banke Bihari Ji Temple Mathura Vrindavan Corridor. Also, Rs 200 crore is proposed for the purchase and construction of land for the development of parikrama patha and public facilities in the triangular area of Mirzapur.”

He further said that Rs 100 crore had been arranged to develop tourism infrastructure facilities in Naimisharanya and Rs 100 crore to establish Ved Vigyan Kendra. Apart from this, a provision of Rs 50 crore has been proposed for tourism infrastructure facilities in Chitrakoot, he added.