BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is set to present Karnataka’s largest-ever budget, estimated at around Rs 4 lakh crore, likely on March 14, with the budget session expected to run for around four weeks.
As the date draws closer, Siddaramaiah has started preparations for a series of crucial progress review meetings starting Monday. These high-stake sessions will lay the foundation for the state’s landmark budget, with key departments, including social welfare, health and family welfare, food and civil supplies, higher education, medical education and women and child development, taking centerstage during the next few days.
Sources in the Chief Minister’s Office revealed that Siddaramaiah, who is set to present his 16th budget, the highest ever by any CM in Karnataka’s history, is working to finalise the priorities for each department in the coming weeks.
These meetings are pivotal, as the CM faces the challenging task of balancing competing demands while addressing concerns over the strain of welfare guarantees and insufficient revenues to meet other critical priorities. Ministers and department heads will be making strong pushes for their share of the budget, making these discussions a defining moment in shaping the state’s financial future.
These meetings and pre-budget meetings in the coming days will delve into the state’s economic performance, assessing revenue generation and identifying fiscal gaps from the previous year. Ministers will present their departments’ most pressing needs, which will directly influence how funds are allocated across essential sectors such as healthcare, education and infrastructure. Behind closed doors, Siddaramaiah and senior officials will scrutinise current policies, adjusting them to align with the government’s broader development strategy while considering new initiatives for progress.
Revenue generation and taxation strategies will also take centerstage with bold proposals aimed at increasing the state’s income. Experts will offer insights on improving tax collection and stimulating economic growth, addressing Karnataka’s fiscal challenges head-on.
Amid these strategic discussions, the government will focus on its top priorities, including managing the guarantees, completing major infrastructure projects, managing the growing debt burden, and ensuring the effective allocation of funds for welfare programmes.