Shillong, Feb 23: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Monday presented the Budget for 2026-27 with a fiscal deficit of Rs 2,672 crore, which is around 3.5% of the GSDP.
The total expenditure is Rs 32,023 crore.
Presenting the budget, Sangma, who is also holding the Finance portfolio, said that the government succeeded in maintaining the fiscal deficit at the permissible limit of 3.5%.
The chief minister estimated the total receipts at Rs 32,000 crore, of which the revenue receipts are estimated at Rs 26,583 crore and capital receipts at Rs 5,417 crore. Excluding borrowings of Rs 5,379 crore, the total receipts are estimated to be Rs 26,621 crore.
“On the expenditure side, I have estimated the total expenditure at Rs 32,023 crore, of which the revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 21,812 crore and capital expenditure at Rs 10,211 crore. Excluding repayment of loans of Rs 2,731 crore, the estimated total expenditure is Rs 29,293 crore”, the chief minister said.
Interest payments for 2026-27 are estimated at Rs 1,540 crore and pension payments at Rs 1,980 crore. The revenue surplus is Rs 4,771 crore, and the closing balance is Rs 714 crore.
Along with the main budget document, he also presented the Climate, Youth, Gender and SDG budgets. The size of the climate budget for 2026-27 is Rs 5,572 crore, an increase of 2.8% over 2025-26; Youth Budget stands at Rs 4,824 crore, an increase of 45%; Gender Budget stands at Rs 6,849 crore, an increase of 10%.
According to a government statement, the Budget highlighted the aspirations of Meghalaya, a small but ambitious state that has achieved notable progress despite its size and structural constraints.
The Budget was shaped through extensive engagement with citizens, stakeholders, and institutions. These discussions contributed significantly to identifying priorities and refining policy decisions. The overarching objective emphasized was the well-being of all citizens and the creation of opportunities for farmers, women, and youth.
Meghalaya is now the second fastest-growing state in India and the only state to sustain nearly 10% real GSDP growth for three consecutive post-COVID years – reflecting disciplined investment and long-term planning.
Meghalaya’s Vision 2032 aims to triple the State’s GSDP by 2032 and place Meghalaya among the top ten States in per capita income and SDG performance as it marks 60 years of Statehood.
According to the Chief Minister, the “Meghalayan Decade” is driven by ‘Mission 10’, focusing on ten growth sectors and ten key commitments for inclusive progress, the chief minister said.
Conrad noted that the foundations for stable growth have been firmly laid, a continued period of consistent policy direction and institutional stability over the next six years will be essential to sustain momentum and achieve the state’s long-term vision 2032.
These efforts are reinforced by underlying fiscal and developmental strengths that provide a stable foundation for long-term advancement:
For the first time, capital expenditure has crossed Rs 10,000 crore. The projected capital expenditure of Rs 10,211 crore for 2026-27 is a seven-fold increase from the 2017-18 levels of Rs 1,435 crore.
Leveraging strategic funding windows, Meghalaya is one of the top-performing states in SASCI, an interest-free grant-like facility with estimated receipts of Rs 4500 crore in 2026-27, a 67% increase from the current financial year. This amount will be spent on ongoing and new capital projects across sectors.
Target of new EAPs worth Rs15,000 crore in the sectors of roads, power, healthcare, urban and human development, is one of the highest in the North-East. 90% of the repayment of these is borne by the Government of India.
Centrally sponsored scheme releases have more than doubled from Rs 2,965 crore in 2017- 18 to an estimated Rs 6,833 crore in 2026-27.
