Andhra Budget: With eye on 2024 polls, Jagan government focuses on welfare schemes

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh finance minister Buggana Rajendranath presented the annual Budget for 2023–24 with an outlay of Rs. 2,79,279 crores. This being the ruling YSRCP’s final Budget before the elections in 2024, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy focused on allocating more funds for welfare and development schemes.

Highlights:

· This year’s budget has a record-low fiscal deficit pegged at 1.54%.

· 32.5% increase in BC Welfare in the 2023–24 Budget compared to 2022–23 Budget allocations (2022–23: Rs. 29,143 crores; 2023–24: Rs. 38,605 crores).

· 6.6% increase in allocation for municipal administration and urban development in Budget 2023-24 compared to 2022–23 (2022–23: Rs. 8,796 crores; 2023–23: Rs. 9,381 crores).

· 6.2% increase in allocation for the roads and buildings department in the 2023–24 Budget compared to 2022–23 Budget allocations (2022–23: Rs. 8,581 crores; 2023–24: Rs. 9,118 crores).

· 10% increase in welfare schemes (DBT) which gets the maximum share of the Budget with Rs. 54,228 crores (2022–23: Rs. 48,882 crores; 2023–24: Rs. 54,228 crores).

· 7% increase in allocation for the education sector from Rs. 30,077 crores in 2022–23 to Rs. 32,198 crores in 2023–24.

· 3.2% increase in allocation for the health sector from Rs. 15,384 crores in 2022–23 to Rs. 15,882 crores in 2023–24.

· 3% increase in allocation for the agriculture sector from Rs. 13,630 crores in 2022–23 to Rs. 14,043 crores in 2023–24.