Chandigarh, March 17 — Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday proposed a ₹2.05 lakh crore budget for 2025-26, marking an increase from the ₹1.89 lakh crore allocation for 2024-25. Presenting his first budget, Saini brought out the state’s debt burden, stating that 30.26% of the consolidated fund would go toward loan repayment—17.46% as principal and 12.8% as interest.
To drive innovation, he announced the creation of a Department of Future and proposed the Haryana Artificial Intelligence Mission, backed by ₹474 crore in World Bank assistance. Addressing substance abuse, he introduced SANKALP—Substance Abuse and Narcotics Knowledge Awareness and Liberation Programme Authority.
For farmers, Saini proposed increasing the direct sowing subsidy for paddy from ₹4,000 to ₹4,500 per acre, while under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat Yojana, the incentive for switching from paddy cultivation would rise from ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 per acre. Women farmers engaged in dairy farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries would receive interest-free loans of ₹1 lakh.
A new horticulture policy was announced for farmer producer organizations (FPOs) registered as cooperative societies. Additionally, three new centers of excellence for litchi, strawberry, and date palm cultivation would be set up in Ambala, Yamunanagar, and Hisar, respectively.
Saini also announced plans to establish a cow sanctuary in every district and allocated ₹5 crore for the construction of 51 sheds in registered cow shelters.
