UP Presents Record Rs 9.12 Lakh Crore Budget Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday unveiled a record Budget of Rs 9.12 lakh crore for 2026-27 the largest ever announced by any Indian state , up from Rs 8.13 lakh crore last year with a focus on infrastructure, employment generation, healthcare and industrial expansion. The Budget, presented by Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna , is being seen as the final full-fledged financial roadmap of the Yogi Adityanath government ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections .

Reacting sharply, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav described the Budget as a “farewell budget” of the BJP, arguing that headline figures could not mask shortcomings in delivery. He alleged that significant portions of previous allocations remained unspent, questioned the realism of projected growth numbers and said persistent issues such as unemployment, inflation and farmers’ distress had not been adequately addressed. He also pointed out that per-capita income in the state continued to lag behind several other major states.

Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati also criticised the Budget, calling it “more populist than development-oriented” and urging the government to ensure that announcements translate into real benefits on the ground. She stressed the need for stable employment, timely filling of backlog vacancies for SCs, STs and OBCs, and a development approach that benefits all regions and sections of society.

The Budget allocates Rs 27,103 crore for infrastructure and industrial development, a 13 per cent increase over last year, including Rs 5,000 crore for industrial area expansion and Rs 2,000 crore under the Atal Infrastructure Mission. The Defence Industrial Corridor is expected to attract Rs 35,280 crore in investments across 200 units , generating over 53,000 direct jobs . The textile sector has emerged as a key focus, receiving Rs 5,041 crore , a more than five-fold increase, with a target of 30,000 jobs in 2026-27.

Healthcare spending has been raised to Rs 37,956 crore , while Rs 14,997 crore has been earmarked for medical education, including the establishment of 14 new medical colleges. Education accounts for 12.4 per cent of the Budget, while agriculture and allied sectors receive nine per cent.

Economically, Uttar Pradesh’s growth trajectory is narrowing the gap with larger industrial states. With a nominal GSDP compound annual growth rate of about 7.4 per cent over the past decade , the highest among major states albeit by a narrow margin, UP is now growing as fast as the best-performing economies , signalling a clear shift away from its long-standing BIMARU tag.

The government maintains that sustained capital investment, industrial expansion and skill development will underpin inclusive growth and further strengthen the state’s economic position in the run-up to the elections.