Budget outlay for Bihar unlikely to soar due to growing expenditure

SOURCES SAID THAT THE CENTRAL DEVOLUTIONS IN CURRENT FISCAL YEAR STANDING AT ₹1.25 LAKH CRORE HAS COME AS A BIG BOOST TO THE STATE ECONOMY

- Anirban Guha Roy

PATNA: The budget outlay for annual scheme for the upcoming state budget 2025-26 is not likely to witness high allocation owing to growing committed expenditure in terms of salary, pension, interest payment and other expenses, sources in the finance department said. The budget outlay for annual schemes in the current fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 stands at Rs 1 lakh crore.

However, a final call on the outlay for annual schemes -- the money allocated for development schemes and asset creation -- would be taken only after the Union budget announcements on February 1 regarding the central devolutions in terms of state's share in central taxes and grants to be given to Bihar.