AIIMS for Western UP, IIT for Bundelkhand:People expect more from the upcoming budget; UP govt requests key projects from centre before elections

Uttar Pradesh will go to assembly elections next year. Today, the Modi government will present the general budget. Before this, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held a pre-budget meeting with all states’ Chief Ministers, Finance Ministers, and Additional Chief Secretaries. From Uttar Pradesh, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar attended. Suresh Khanna asked for budget allocations for 33 sectors, including law and order, social justice, education, health, women, and farmers. After the meeting, all states sent their demands to the center. The UP government has asked for a bigger share of central taxes based on population. It also requested an AIIMS for better medical facilities in Western UP and the pending funds for the Namami Gange project. Due to rising urbanization, the state has also asked for a budget to improve basic facilities in cities. In the last budget before UP Assembly elections in 2022, the state received special packages, including metro projects for Varanasi and Noida, funds for Jewar International Airport, and financial help for Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and the Ganga Expressway. Bihar received similar benefits at that time. This year, experts expect UP may get special attention in the budget again because of the upcoming elections. Read in Dainik Bhaskar’s Sunday Big Story what gifts UP has asked for from the Union Budget as electoral gifts AIIMS demanded for Western UP
Uttar Pradesh has the largest population in the country. Currently, there are only 2 AIIMS in the state. The first is in Raebareli in Central UP and the second in Gorakhpur in Purvanchal. This time, the Yogi government has demanded an AIIMS for Western UP as well. Currently, people here go to Delhi for treatment of serious illnesses. With an AIIMS in Western UP, the entire state will be covered. Health expert Mohammad Monish Siddiqui says- Speaking of the health sector, apart from AIIMS, UP can become a big hub for pharmaceutical and medical devices. The government is also talking about this. But, for this, facilities like those in Uttarakhand and Himachal will also have to be provided. There are high hopes from the central budget for this. If better facilities are provided for entrepreneurs, they can come forward in this sector. The coverage of up to 5 lakh for the poor under the Ayushman Bharat scheme should be further increased. National Mission for Clean Ganga
Under the National Mission for Clean Ganga, a provision of 25,459 crore rupees was included in the last budget. Most of this amount was to be spent in UP. However, a large portion of the budget could not be received by UP. In such a situation, the government has requested the release of the outstanding amount, so that sufficient funds can be obtained for the ongoing schemes to keep the Ganga clean and stalled projects can be completed. Demanded money for infrastructure in urban areas
The central government has closed the Smart City Scheme, while urbanization continues to grow. The UP government has demanded a special budget for building infrastructure in cities. This has also been raised before NITI Aayog. Demanded a larger share in central taxes
Last time, in the budget, UP received 2.55 lakh crore rupees as a share in central taxes and later 38 thousand crore rupees. Thus, UP received a total of 2.93 lakh crore rupees. This time, the government has demanded a larger share in central taxes. It is estimated that UP will receive more than 3 lakh crore rupees. Arvind Mohan, Professor of Economics at Lucknow University, says- Due to it being an election year, UP will be seen receiving special attention in the budget. There are two ways this is possible. First- in terms of basic infrastructure, Second- Direct Benefit Scheme. The stalled funds for central scheme projects will also be released. Especially, the center’s focus will be on schemes that directly affect common people. These demands were also made One Nyaya Panchayat – one inter college
Under the PM-SHRI scheme, 655 crore has been requested for 797 government inter colleges and one Nyaya Panchayat – one inter college for access to all secondary education. Additionally, the establishment of Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district has been demanded. Women must be empowered in AI
For a developed India, a special centrally sponsored scheme and financial provision have been demanded to empower women in AI and Data Analytics. Approval should be given for the use of railway land
Many lands of Indian Railways are not in use. A demand has been made to provide states with a simple and practical permission system for the public interest use of such land. Additionally, 6 thousand crore has been requested for pure water in villages. Separate Housing Scheme for Valmiki Community
Many families of the Valmiki community are unable to meet the standards of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana due to being homeless. A demand has been made to start a separate housing scheme for them. Additionally, a demand has been made to include houses with permanent walls and tin-shed roofs under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the category of eligible housing. Review of GST on Brick Kilns, Pan Masala, and Tobacco
The brick kiln industry is an important base of the rural economy. Before GST, it generated approximately ?700 crore in annual revenue. This has decreased to ?250 crore after GST. A demand has been made to review this. Additionally, before GST, pan masala and tobacco products generated approximately ?1,000 crore in tax, which has now decreased to ?300 crore, even though consumption has not decreased. A demand has also been made to review this. Western UP districts should be connected to Lucknow Bench
A large number of cases from Western UP go to the High Court. However, in the absence of a bench, citizens have to travel far. Therefore, there has been a demand to associate the western districts with the Lucknow Bench of the High Court. These demands can also be fulfilled by the Union Budget Income Tax: Earnings up to 13 lakh can be tax-free In the new income tax regime, the standard deduction can be increased from 75 thousand to 1 lakh rupees. This will make the income of salaried people up to 13 lakh rupees tax-free. Currently, income up to 12.75 lakh rupees is tax-free. Uttar Pradesh will benefit the most from this in terms of population. The money available to the middle class will increase. They could save a few thousand rupees every month. This amount will be useful for expenses, savings, or investment. Kisan Samman Nidhi: Annual amount may increase by 50%
The amount of the PM-Kisan scheme can be increased from 6 thousand to 9 thousand rupees annually. There has been talk of increasing it for the past 3 years. Elections are due next year in UP. Currently, 1.89 lakh farmers are receiving this amount here. There has been no change in the scheme since its inception in 2019. In 2024, the Parliamentary Standing Committee had recommended doubling the amount to 12 thousand rupees annually. Similar demands have been raised by farmer organizations. The Bihar government is adding 3 thousand rupees from its side. Similarly, the Madhya Pradesh government is giving 6 thousand rupees, equal to the central government. In this budget, there are preparations to increase it to 9 thousand. This will benefit 1.89 crore farmer families in UP. With this extra amount, farmers will be able to meet their small farming needs. Ayushman Bharat: Benefit for all elders above 60 years of age The government may expand the scope of the Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme. Currently, elderly people above 70 years are benefiting from this scheme, which may be reduced to 60 years. Additionally, the annual limit of 5 lakh for free treatment may be increased, so that the expenses of serious illnesses like cancer and heart surgery can be covered. In UP, there are 5.42 crore Ayushman cardholders. Among them, the number of people aged 60 to 70 years is approximately 1 crore. Out of these, 80 percent do not have any health insurance. For serious illnesses, they are forced to spend their savings. In such a situation, the government can provide them relief. With the increase in the 5 lakh limit, families will not have to take loans for major operations. Patients will also be able to get free treatment in large and specialist hospitals. Rail Infrastructure: New Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat trains requested The government wants to eliminate the reservation waiting list by 2030 by running new trains. Elections are to be held in UP. The highest demand for trains is also from UP-Bihar. The highest migration is also from here. In view of the increasing pressure from religious tourism and passengers, the government has demanded 20 to 25 new Amrit Bharat and Vande Bharat sleeper trains for UP. Currently, there is a difference of about 20-25% between demand and seat availability during peak season. For this, along with increasing trains, track expansion will also be necessary. PM Surya Ghar Yojana, 80 thousand subsidy on 2 KW solar panel In the budget, the subsidy on solar systems up to 2 kilowatts (KW) may be announced to be increased from 30 thousand per kilowatt to 40 thousand. According to existing rules, installing a 2 KW solar system provides a total subsidy of 60 thousand rupees at the rate of 30 thousand per kilowatt. If the subsidy is increased by 10 thousand rupees per kilowatt in the budget, then a total subsidy of 80 thousand rupees will be received on a 2KW solar system. That means a saving of 20 thousand rupees. For systems between 2 to 3 KW, the subsidy is 18 thousand rupees per kilowatt. For systems above 3 KW, the subsidy is limited to 78 thousand rupees. So far, 3.57 lakh connections have been provided in UP under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana. This has made a solar capacity of 1227 megawatts available. Till now, 10.94 lakh applications have been received. With the increase in subsidy, families installing a 2 KW system will save an extra 20 thousand rupees. What did UP get in the Union Budget before the 2022 Assembly Elections
It was the era of Covid. Despite this, the 2021-22 Union Budget provided funds for metro projects for Varanasi and Noida, for Jewar International Airport, and financial assistance for Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, and Ganga Expressway. Under the PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, funds were received for opening medical colleges, labs, and health infrastructure in every district of UP. It had received a 7.36 percent share from central taxes. AIIMS had started in Gorakhpur, and it also received a budget for that. This time there is no disaster like COVID. Political experts believe that just as Bihar received special schemes in the last budget, UP can also receive many gifts in this budget. What Bihar received from the Union Budget before the elections
In 2025, Bihar received approximately1.43 lakh crore as its share in central taxes and 54,575 crore as grants. This amount constituted about 74% of the state’s total revenue receipts. The budget also provided Bihar with an interest-free loan of approximately15,000 crore for long-term (50 years) infrastructure development. Key Announcements