Himachal CM Sukhu presents ₹54,928 crore budget for FY27; blames scrapping of RDG for ₹8,000 crore loss

Himachal CM Sukhu presents a ₹54,928-crore budget for 2026-27, citing BJP's lack of support and raising milk procurement prices.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday (March 21, 2026) presented a ₹54,928-crore budget for 2026-27, and blamed the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant to the state for annual losses of over ₹8,000 crore.

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The grant — financial assistance provided by the Centre to fill the gap between the State’s revenue and expenses — was discontinued earlier this month.

Mr. Sukhu’s Budget speech was disrupted by sloganeering by opposition BJP members after he accused them of “not siding with the state” on the issue of the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG) that had impacted the State’s budget, resulting in a loss of ₹8,105 crore annually.

“History will never forget them,” he said, drawing immediate reaction from BJP members.

This is the first time that the size of the budget has been reduced in the state — to ₹54,928 crore from ₹58,514 crore for the ongoing fiscal year, resulting in a cut of ₹3,586 crore.