The budget is built around five key pillars: social security, human resource development, infrastructure development, green growth, and the advancement of economic activities, Desai said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described it as a reflection of the commitment to the vision of a Viksit Gujarat and a mission of Jan Kalyan (public welfare).
Key announcements and allocations
#Education
- Allocation: Nearly ₹60,000 crore
- Focus on quality education and infrastructure development.
#Health
- Allocation: ₹23,365 crore
- Focus on enhanced healthcare facilities and welfare programs.
#Infrastructure Development and Connectivity
- Allocation: ₹1,34,206 crore (36.6% of the budget outlay).
Provisions have been made to enhance infrastructure with two new Greenfield Expressways, along with 12 new high-speed corridors. Six Regional Economic Plans will be formulated to drive growth, and six growth hubs will be established in Surat, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Saurashtra Coastal Region, and Kutch.
- Namo Shakti Expressway: Connecting Deesa in North Gujarat with the coastal region of Pipavav in Saurashtra.
- Somnath-Dwarka Expressway: From Ahmedabad to Rajkot, extending to Dwarka, Somnath, and Porbandar.
- Garvi Gujarat High Speed Corridor: 12 new corridors spanning 1,367 km.
- Air connectivity: Construction of a new airport in Dahod, and upgrades to airports in Vadodara, Surat, Bhavnagar, and Porbandar.
- Ambaji Corridor and Dharoi Tourism Development Project: will be developed to promote tourism.
#Urban Development and Water Conservation
- Allocation: ₹30,325 crore.
- 2025 as Urban Development Year: A 40% increase in the urban development budget, with additional financial allocations for structural development of newly formed municipal corporations.
- Catch the Rain: Gujarat’s urban areas will launch the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign to encourage public participation in raising groundwater levels.
#Economic Growth & Industrial Development
- Viksit Gujarat 2047 Vision: Aligned with PM Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’.
- Viksit Gujarat Fund: A ₹50,000 crore over five years (₹5,000 crore allocated in this budget) fund has been established to boost the state’s growth and systematically implement the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat through public welfare schemes.
- Growth Hubs: 6 hubs planned, including Surat Economic Region.
Regional economic plans for Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Coastal Saurashtra, and Kutch. - Gujarat Reforms Commission: To bring necessary reforms in the administrative procedures and integrating new technologies.
- Services Sector: New Commissionerate of Services to be set up.
#Welfare and Social Security Initiatives
Special provisions have been made for youth, women empowerment, and child nutrition. Social security, inclusive growth, and women empowerment under ‘GYAN’ (Garib, Yuva, Annadata, Nari Shakti).
- Children’s Nutrition: ₹8,460 crore allocated, reflecting a 25% increase from the previous year.
- PM Awas Yojana (Rural): Financial assistance increased by ₹50,000, bringing the total assistance to ₹1.70 lakh per beneficiary.
- Vanbandhu Welfare Scheme: ₹30,000 crore allocated for the welfare of Vanbandhu (forest dwellers) tribal communities from Ambaji to Umargam by improving education, employment, and infrastructure.
- Sakhi Sahas Yojana: The newly launched ‘Sakhi Sahas Yojana’ aims to empower women by supporting self-help groups with equipment, loan guarantees, and other assistance.
- Janata Juth Aksmat Vima Yojana: Social security has been enhanced with the doubling of insurance coverage under the Janata Juth Accidental Insurance Scheme from ₹2 lakh to ₹4 lakh, benefiting over 4.45 crore people. The eligibility criterion for disability benefits has also been reduced from 80% to 60%, increasing the number of beneficiaries by over 85,000.
#Agriculture and Fisheries
- Agriculture: ₹1,612 crore allocated for agriculture modernisation to support farmers and promote agro-processing for increased income.
- Fisheries: A ₹1,622 crore package to boost fish production and employment generation, with a focus on infrastructure, storage, processing, and exports.
- Green Feeders Project: ₹4 crore allocated for clean energy supply to agriculture.
#AI, Technology & Innovation
- Gujarat Institute of Technology: ₹100 crore allocated for establishing a Gujarat Institute of Technology.
- AI & Digital Growth: AI labs to be set up in seven technical institutions. ₹175 crore allocated for a Demonstrative AI Lab at LD Engineering College, Ahmedabad.
- i-Hubs: Establishment of 4 regional centres akin to i-Hub in Ahmedabad to foster startups.
Tax Reliefs & Stamp Duty Reductions
- Mortgage Deeds:Maximum stamp duty reduced from ₹25,000 to ₹5,000 for loan amounts up to ₹1 crore, to benefit home loan holders and small entrepreneurs.
- Ancestral Property: Stamp duty reduced to ₹200 from 4.90% for legal heirs of pre-deceased daughters.
- Electric Vehicles (EVs): Motor vehicle tax on fully battery-operated EVs reduced from 6% to 1%.
- Vehicle Tax for Maxi Category: Uniform 6% tax, reduced from existing 8% and 12%.
