• A ₹50,000 crore Viksit Gujarat fund announced. • Significant provisions made to strengthen infrastructure and connectivity.
• Two new Greenfield Expressways, Namo Shakti Expressway and Somnath-Dwarka Expressway, along with 12 new high-speed corridors, will be developed. A new airport will also be developed in Dahod.
• The year 2025 will be designated as Urban Development Year to fast-track the development of world-class cities. The urban development budget has been increased by 40%, with financial allocations for the structural development of new municipal corporations. • The financial assistance under PM Awas Yojana (Rural) for housing the poor has been raised to ₹1.70 lakh. • Allocation of ₹30,000 crore under the Vanbandhu Welfare Scheme for the welfare of tribal communities.
• A historic ₹1,622 crore package has been introduced to boost the growth and development of the state’s fisheries sector.
• A budget allocation of ₹8,460 crore has been made for children’s nutrition.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel welcomed the State Budget for 2025-26, presented by Finance Minister Shri Kanubhai Desai. He described it as a reflection of the commitment to the vision of a Viksit Gujarat and a mission of Jan Kalyan (public welfare). Shri Kanubhai Desai described the budget presented in the Legislative Assembly as a blueprint for systematically implementing the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat through public welfare schemes. As part of this budget, a ₹50,000 crore Viksit Gujarat Fund has been announced to boost the state’s growth, he stated. The Chief Minister stated that this ₹3.70 lakh crore budget, the largest in the state’s history, reflects a commitment to development, with a 21.8% increase in capital expenditure compared to the previous year.
The CM Shri Patel stated that this budget is a successful effort to make the lives of Gujarat’s citizens more comfortable, prosperous, and fulfilling, as the state continues to achieve new milestones in progress and development. He also expressed confidence that the budget reflects a quantum leap in Gujarat’s growth, propelling it forward at an even faster pace than before. The CM welcomed the provisions made in the budget for infrastructure and connectivity, stating that six Regional Economic Plans will be developed to drive the growth of a Viksit Gujarat. The budget includes provisions to establish six growth hubs—Surat Region, Ahmedabad Region, Vadodara Region, Rajkot Region, Saurashtra Coastal Region, and Kutch Region.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this budget lays the foundation for the development of an extensive world-class road network across the state. He stated that to accelerate the vision of a Viksit Gujarat, two new Greenfield Expressways and 12 new high-speed corridors will be developed. The construction of the Namo Shakti Expressway will connect Deesa in North Gujarat with the coastal region of Pipavav in Saurashtra, boosting industrial, social, and economic development in the coastal belt. Additionally, the Somnath-Dwarka Expressway will connect Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Dwarka, Somnath, and Porbandar, enhancing connectivity for pilgrims and travellers visiting these religious places. To further improve air connectivity, the CM announced the construction of a new airport in Dahod, besides upgrades to airports in Vadodara, Surat, Bhavnagar, and Porbandar. He also stated that the government will develop the Ambaji Corridor and Dharoi Tourism Development Project to boost the state’s tourism sector. To accelerate world-class urban development, the year 2025 will be celebrated as Urban Development Year.
A 40 percent rise has been made in the urban development budget, with additional financial allocations provided for structural development of newly formed municipal corporations. In response to the Honourable Prime Minister’s call for water conservation, Gujarat’s urban areas will launch the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, encouraging public participation to raise groundwater levels. The Chief Minister also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ensuring housing for all, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of providing a house for every citizen.
The financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) has been increased by ₹50,000, bringing the total assistance per beneficiary to ₹1.70 lakh. Expressing the government’s commitment for development of tribal communities, the CM announced an allocation of ₹30,000 crore for the welfare of Vanbandhu (forest dwellers) residing in the tribal belt from Ambaji to Umargam. This fund will be used to improve education, employment, and infrastructure facilities in tribal areas, ensuring development at their doorstep. CM Shri Patel stated that under the guidance of PM Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat is committed to accelerating the fisheries sector, also known as the blue economy, for the holistic development of the fishing industry in the state.
Gujarat, with the longest coastline in the country, is a leader in the fisheries sector. An unprecedented package of ₹1,622 crore has been announced to boost fish production and employment generation in this sector. The CM added that this package emphasizes the development of infrastructure facilities for fishermen, along with storage, processing, and exports. The Chief Minister mentioned that modernizing the agriculture sector and empowering farmers is the state’s priority for strengthening the foundation of India’s agricultural revolution.
A budget allocation of ₹1,612 crore has been made to support agriculture sector and the farmers. Additionally, he highlighted the provisions in the budget for agro-processing and promotion to enhance farmers’ income through value addition in agricultural production. The Chief Minister stated that special provisions have been made in this budget for youth, women empowerment, and nutrition among children. To enable the youth to keep pace with the world in this era of artificial intelligence, AI labs will be set up in seven technical institutions, and a favourable ecosystem for startups will be created. He welcomed the establishment of i-Hubs in four regions to accelerate startups. Referring to the new and significant ‘Sakhi Sahas Yojana’ for the empowerment and self-reliance of women, the CM said that the state government will provide assistance to self-help groups in the form of equipment support, loan guarantees, and more. He also stated that the budget takes into account the nutrition of children, who represent a bright future. The budget allocation for this has been increased by 25% compared to the previous year, reaching ₹8,460 crore. Along with economic development, the government has also ensured social security.
In this context, CM Shri Patel announced that the insurance coverage under the Janata Juth Aksmat Vima Yojana (Janata Juth Accidental Insurance Scheme) has been doubled from ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh, benefiting more than 4.45 crore people. Expressing empathy towards the Divyang people, he announced that the eligibility criterion for disability benefits has been reduced from 80% to 60%, enabling over 85,000 divyang to become beneficiaries. The CM Shri Patel emphasized that under the leadership of PM Shri Modi, the entire nation is progressing with the spirit of ‘Nation First.’ He expressed confidence that Gujarat’s people-centric budget will inspire every citizen to contribute to the vision of Viksit Gujarat, ultimately aiding in the creation of Viksit Bharat.
The Chief Minister praised Finance Minister Shri Kanubhai Desai and his team for presenting a comprehensive budget that drives Gujarat’s progress while ensuring inclusive growth, leaving no section of society behind in the development journey.
