Tripura govt presents ₹32,423.44 crore tax free budget, proposes 13 new schemes

Agartala, Mar 21 (PTI) Tripura Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy on Friday presented ₹32,423.44 crore budget for 2025-26, proposing a total of 13 new welfare schemes to help job seekers, mentally challenged persons, visitors to the state capital and others.

No new tax was proposed in the budget with a deficit of ₹429.56 crore.

In the budget, emphasis was given to capital expenditure by allocating ₹7,903 crore to boost economy and generate employment.

Roy said the government will set up centres in Agartala, Udaipur and Ambassa to provide aspirants with quality coaching for various competitive examinations.

Noting that the government focuses on inclusive growth, the minister said, “More focus was given on capital expenditure in the budget by allocating ₹7,903 crore which is ₹7,000 crore in the budget for 2024-25. The focus on capital expenditure will boost infrastructure building and generate employment for the youth,” he said.

Roy said the government is set to establish a centre for computer-based examinations at Hapania International Fair ground in West Tripura so that the aspirants do not need to travel outside the state to appear in online examinations with a cost of ₹15 crore.

He announced that the government will set up ‘Bharat Mata Canteen cum Night Shelter’ at Agartala so that the people coming to the state capital from different places could stay there.

“A budgetary outlay of ₹2 crore has been sanctioned. This is an initial allocation and the government will look for suitable land later to set up Bharat Mata Canteen cum Night Shelter. The Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) will run the facility,” he said.

The minister proposed a scheme for mentally challenged persons under which they will be given a monthly pension of ₹5,000.

“Various works for socio-economic development of ST people are being taken up under the World Bank-funded Tripura Rural Economic Growth and Service Delivery Project (TRESP)”, he said.

On the state’s debt burden, the minister said the state’s debt has increased to ₹21,878.26 crore.

“We inherited a debt of ₹12,903 crore from the Left’s regime. Now, we are trying to repay the loans. For the coming fiscal, the state could borrow ₹1,225 crore as per Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management,” he said.