Jharkhand’s assembly echoed with applause and accusations as Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore tabled a mammoth ₹1,58,560 crore budget for 2026-27, dubbed ‘Abua Dishom’. Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s administration hails it as a blueprint for sustainable, people-centric progress.
Marking a significant escalation from the previous ₹1,45,400 crore outlay, this budget channels resources into poverty alleviation and equitable growth. ‘It’s our pledge to transform every tear into a smile,’ Kishore declared, positioning it as the cornerstone of ‘Abua Jharkhand’.
Tensions flared when he accused New Delhi of withholding ₹16,000 crore in funds – ₹5,000 crore tax devolution and ₹11,000 crore grants. GST tweaks cost the state ₹4,000 crore yearly, MGNREGA shifts burden ₹5,640 crore extra, and coal dues linger at ₹1.36 lakh crore.
Undeterred, Jharkhand upheld salaries and pumped ₹13,000 crore into Maiyaan Samman Yojana. Own revenues are eyed to balloon to ₹66,700 crore from ₹25,521 crore five years ago.
Top allocation goes to women and social security: ₹22,995.69 crore for the department, with ₹14,065.57 crore specifically for monthly stipends to eligible women. Pensions and health follow with substantial hikes – ₹7,990.30 crore for healthcare, featuring cancer initiatives and new clinics.
Farmers benefit from enhanced Birsa seed scheme (₹145 crore), irrigation via solar (₹75 crore), and crop insurance (₹400 crore). Rural housing under Abua Awas gets ₹4,100 crore, while SHG products under ‘Palash’ brand receive ₹66 crore.
Schools and colleges secure over ₹18,800 crore combined. Infrastructure spending surges 8.5%, promising better connectivity and utilities. With fiscal prudence intact – deficit at 2.18% GSDP – this budget charts a path to resilience and empowerment.