Dhirendra Singh, Lucknow, Read: Due to weak income of the state and slow expenditure of the budget, the plans of many departments have got stuck. There are 50 days left for the financial session to end, while not even half of the budget has been spent. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given strict instructions to the entire government team including the ministers and the Chief Secretary to spend 100 percent of the available funds of their respective departments, including the remaining funds allocation from the Centre. In such a situation, when the big budget is presented again in the House on February 11, the opposition has made tremendous preparations to corner the government.

According to the data, after the general budget of Rs 808736 crore on February 20 last year for the financial year 2025-26, a total budget of Rs 8,65,079.46 crore was passed by the House through supplementary budget twice in the monsoon session and winter session. But out of this, till now only Rs 4,70,835.97 crore (about 54.42 percent) has been released to the departments. Out of the released amount, only about Rs 4,28,495.95 crore i.e. about 91 percent has been spent. This means that a large part of the government’s money is still lying in the treasury, while the schemes in many departments are said to be slow due to lack of funds. In such a situation, the question is arising that when the existing budget is not being spent completely, then what will be the practical benefit of the new record size budget.

According to sources, there is a preparation to increase the size of the upcoming budget by about Rs 1.45 lakh crore more than last year. In view of the election year, the possibility of many populist announcements and new schemes is also being expressed. Here, the Chief Minister had recently adopted a tough stance in a high-level review meeting regarding the slow pace of budget expenditure. When they expressed displeasure over the low expenditure of the departments, the officers said that there was no allocation of central share from Delhi in many schemes. The Chief Minister directed the concerned ministers, chief secretary and department heads to personally go to Delhi and lobby and get 100 percent work completed by March 31. Now, with 50 days left, it is not easy to avoid accountability by ensuring effective utilization of the approved budget.

Latest Budget Account (2025-26)

• Total approved budget: Rs 8,65,079.46 crore

• Released to departments: Rs 4,70,835.97 crore (54.42%)

• Expenditure out of released amount: Rs 4,28,495.95 crore (91%)

Major departments with less allocation

• Namami Ganga: 39.11%

• Transportation: 42.60%

• Irrigation: 45%

• Urban development: 47.22%

• Housing: 52.33%

• Rural Development: 59.58%

• Panchayati Raj: 59.71%

better spending departments

• Allowances and pension: 100%

• Police and Home Guards: 80–95%

• Education Department: More than 85% expenditure

income below target

• Total income till January: Rs 1,78,556.43 crore

• Income target: Rs 2,40,980.67 crore

• Achievement against target: 74.1%

There is no significant increase in GST and VAT compared to the budget.

• January 2026 GST: Rs 7,161.95 crore

• January 2025 GST: Rs 7,167.29 crore

• January 2026 VAT: Rs 2,816.47 crore

• January 2025 VAT: Rs 2,797.32 crore