Odisha Budget 2026-27: CM Mohan Charan Majhi Unveils Ambitious Fiscal Roadmap with Focus on Welfare and Infrastructure
₹34,166 Crore for Rural Infrastructure and ₹31,997 Crore for Education Mark a Performance-Driven Fiscal Blueprint for Balanced Growth
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presented the state budget for the 2026-27 financial year in the Odisha Legislative Assembly today.
The fiscal roadmap signals a strategic shift towards expansive social safety nets, rural empowerment, and sustained educational reform, with a strong emphasis on what the government terms “balanced growth.”
Education and Rural Development Take Centre Stage
The government has placed rural infrastructure at the forefront, allocating ₹34,166 crore to the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department. The move underscores a renewed push to strengthen grassroots governance, expand rural roads, and accelerate safe drinking water coverage under flagship programmes.
Close behind is the School and Mass Education department, which has been granted ₹31,997 crore. The substantial allocation reflects the administration’s commitment to modernising primary and secondary education and consolidating recent reforms across the state.
The Education Surge
Education remains one of the largest components of the programmatic budget. The increase from ₹31,185 crore to ₹31,997 crore suggests a focus on sustaining infrastructure upgrades and improving administrative efficiency.
The allocation is expected to strengthen classroom facilities, teacher training, digital learning initiatives, and school transformation programmes introduced in recent years.
Rural and Social Infrastructure Push
The ₹34,166 crore earmarked for Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water signals an aggressive push towards last-mile connectivity and household-level water access. Projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission are expected to receive continued momentum.
This allocation reinforces the government’s strategy of building resilient rural infrastructure while addressing fundamental civic amenities.
Empowerment and Social Protection
A notable rise has been recorded in the Women & Child Development sector, with allocations increasing to ₹16,153 crore. The enhanced funding is likely to support expanded nutrition programmes, maternal care initiatives, and improved honorariums for grassroots workers.
The Social Security outlay stands at ₹9,610 crore, reflecting the growing financial commitment towards pension schemes for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities.
Cultural Identity and Digital Ambition
The 2026-27 budget also reflects a dual commitment to preserving cultural identity and advancing technological growth.
Odia Language Promotion
An allocation of ₹615 crore has been earmarked for the promotion and preservation of the Odia language. The funding is expected to support initiatives such as the proposed Odia University and linguistic research programmes.
Digital Odisha
The IT and Electronics sector has received ₹1,108 crore, aligning with Odisha’s ambition to emerge as a secondary hub in India’s semiconductor and software ecosystem. The investment is aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting startups, and attracting technology-driven industries.
A Performance-Oriented Fiscal Strategy
The overall structure of the 2026-27 budget indicates what officials describe as a “Performance Budget.” Rather than unveiling numerous new schemes, the government has channelled resources into strengthening existing high-performing departments.
The Finance Department’s allocation of ₹65,292 crore includes provisions for debt servicing and transfers to local bodies, ensuring fiscal stability and smooth administrative functioning.
By combining strong rural investment, educational consolidation, social welfare expansion, and a calibrated push toward technology and cultural preservation, the Majhi government has presented a budget that seeks steady, structured, and inclusive growth for Odisha in the coming fiscal year.
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