Key Highlights of the 2026-27 Budget
- Employment Surge: Announcement of 50,000 new government recruitments to tackle youth unemployment.
- Digital Transformation: The state’s first completely paperless budget, utilizing digital tablets for all legislators.
- Rolling Strategy: A unique three-year rolling format covering plans up to 2028-29.
- Nutrition Drive: UHT-processed milk in tetra packs for 14 million children in schools and Anganwadis.
- Infrastructure Boost: ₹5,000 crore for urban development and significant funding for the Bhopal Metro project.
- Health & Tourism: Launch of the “CM Care” scheme and development of 12 wellness and faith tourism hubs.
The Mohan Yadav government has officially signaled a shift toward long-term governance by presenting its third budget as a digital-only document. Breaking away from tradition, the Finance Minister moved the budget on a digital platform, ensuring that only the speech and essential handouts were physically present on the Assembly floor.
Central to this year’s fiscal policy is the “Developed MP 2047” vision, which utilizes a three-year rolling format. This strategy provides a clear roadmap not just for the current fiscal year, but also for 2027-28 and 2028-29. This forward-looking approach is strategically timed, coming just ahead of the upcoming Panchayat and local body elections.
Empowering Youth and Farmers
To address the growing demand for job security, the government has committed to 50,000 new government positions. Beyond direct recruitment, the budget introduces specialized schemes for skill development and self-employment, aiming to create a self-reliant workforce.
The agricultural sector remains a primary beneficiary, with a dedicated provision of approximately ₹20,000 crore. Key initiatives include:
- Revitalization of Bhavantar Yojana: Aimed at supporting price differences for cash crops.
- Irrigation Expansion: Heavy investment in new projects to increase the state’s total irrigated land.
- Organic Push: Enhanced subsidies and training for farmers transitioning to organic farming.
Health, Nutrition, and “CM Care”
In a major social security move, the government is tackling malnutrition by distributing UHT-processed milk to 14 million children. This milk, packaged in sterile tetra packs, ensures long shelf life and high nutritional standards for mid-day meals.
The healthcare sector will see an estimated expenditure of ₹2,000 crore over five years under the new “CM Care” scheme. This includes the expansion of super-specialty services at the State Cardiac Center and various medical colleges. Furthermore, the government plans to transform 12 major destinations, including Ujjain and Khajuraho, into global “wellness and faith tourism hubs” to boost local economies.
Urban Growth and Connectivity
With an eye on the next year’s local elections, the budget allocates ₹5,000 crore for urban infrastructure. A substantial portion of this will accelerate the Bhopal Metro’s ‘Orange and Blue Line’ projects, ensuring the state capital moves toward a modern, high-speed transit future.
Despite a projected state debt of ₹4.90 lakh crore, the Economic Survey remains optimistic, projecting a growth rate of 8.04% and affirming that the state’s borrowing remains within the prescribed RBI limits.
