Tripura presents Rs 34,212 cr tax-free budget

The Tripura government on Monday presented a tax-free deficit budget of Rs 34,212.31 crore for the financial year 2026–27 in the state Assembly, with a strong focus on infrastructure development, employment generation and digital transformation.

Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said the total outlay reflects a growth of 5.52 per cent compared to the previous year’s budget estimate of Rs 32,423 crore. Despite the increased allocation, the budget projects a deficit of Rs 240.72 crore.

A major emphasis has been placed on capital expenditure to boost infrastructure and economic activity. The minister proposed capital spending of Rs 8,945.92 crore, which is 13.19 per cent higher than last year’s allocation. The increased investment is expected to support development projects and create additional employment opportunities across the state.

Roy said the budget aims to lay a strong foundation for sustainable economic growth and aligns with the government’s long-term goal of achieving “Viksit Tripura” by 2047. Key sectors identified for development include infrastructure, digital services, rural employment and connectivity.

Highlighting the government’s focus on education, the minister announced plans to establish a technical university, a medical university and a dedicated women’s university to strengthen the higher education sector.

The government has also earmarked around Rs 15,000 crore for the welfare and development of indigenous tribal communities.

Roy noted that the size of Tripura’s budget has grown significantly from about Rs 15,000 crore in 2017-18 to over Rs 34,000 crore in 2026-27 without imposing any new taxes.

Chief Minister Manik Saha described the budget as balanced and said higher capital expenditure would help accelerate economic growth in the state.