Smita Mishra 
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Majhi presented the state’s budget for the financial year 2025-26 in the assembly today, February 17, 2025. The budget aims to cater to every section of society, including farmers, daily wage earners, middle class, employees, women, youth, and students.
According to Majhi, the Union government has fulfilled the hopes and aspirations of middle-class families by exempting income tax for those earning up to 12 lakh. This move is expected to save taxpayers at least 80,000, which will further strengthen the Indian economy.
The Chief Minister also highlighted that Odisha’s share from the central tax is estimated to increase from 55,232 crore in 2024-25 to 64,408 crore in 2025-26. This increased funding can be utilized by the state government for various welfare works. Majhi emphasized that Odisha is a priority for the Prime Minister, and the state will witness new heights of development. The budget presented for the financial year 2025-26 is people-oriented, people-welfare, employment-generating, and development-oriented.
The Chief Minister stated that the budget focuses on four growth engines: investment, export development, infrastructure development, and social sector development. These engines will drive the state’s growth and development in the coming years.
Majhi also highlighted the state government’s initiatives to promote agriculture, women empowerment, and infrastructure development. The government has allocated funds for various schemes, including the Kalia scheme for farmers, the Mission Shakti scheme for women empowerment, and the Biju Expressway project for infrastructure development.
However, former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik criticized the budget, stating that it failed to address the pressing challenges of job creation and price rise of essential commodities. Patnaik also expressed disappointment that Odisha’s demand for special category status, considering the state’s vulnerability to natural calamities, has been overlooked by the Central government.
Patnaik stated that the budget did not provide any relief to the people of Odisha who are struggling to make ends meet due to the rising prices of essential commodities. He also criticized the Central government for not providing any support to the state’s farmers who are struggling to cope with the aftermath of natural calamities.
The Odisha Assembly’s budget session, which began on February 13, will continue until April 5. The general discussion on the state budget is scheduled to take place on February 20 and 21, followed by the appropriation bill on March 29.
Last year, the Odisha government presented a budget of 2.65 trillion for the 2024-25 fiscal, with a focus on agriculture, women empowerment, and infrastructure development. The budget had allocated 33,919 crore for agriculture, 10,000 crore for women empowerment, and 5,000 crore for farmers’ welfare.
The current budget presentation is expected to generate a lot of discussion and debate in the Odisha Assembly, with the ruling party and the opposition parties presenting their views and opinions on the budget.
