CM Siddaramaiah to present Karnataka budget today

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will present the budget for 2024-25 on Friday. This would be his record 15th Budget presentation.

According to sources, the budget size is estimated to be between Rs 3.75 lakh crores and Rs 3.80 lakh crores.

It is said that CM Siddaramaiah will begin his budget presentation at 10.15 am. He will arrive at the Assembly 15 minutes prior. The budget speech which will commence from 10.30 am is expected to continue till 12.30 pm.

Key budget expectations:

• Budget Outlay: Siddaramaiah’s Congress government plans to present a budget with a total outlay of approximately ₹3.80 lakh crores, surpassing the expenditure of the previous year.
• Drought relief: With the state facing severe drought, significant funds are anticipated to be allocated to the agricultural sector, following the Chief Minister’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request drought relief funds.
• Allocation for Five Guarantees: The Congress government’s five guarantees, pivotal in securing their mandate during the assembly elections, are expected to receive substantial budget allocation, claimed to have uplifted many from poverty in the past 8 months.
• Excise Duty and Liquor Prices: The government’s excise policy and budget allocation, particularly concerning excise duty, will be closely watched after the previous budget’s liquor price hike.
• Infra development in Bengaluru: Bengaluru is poised to receive a significant allocation for ongoing and proposed infrastructure projects, including Namma Metro and Peripheral Ring Road, aimed at addressing the city’s longstanding traffic issues.
• BBMP Election allocation: With the BBMP elections approaching, the Siddaramaiah-led government is expected to prioritize budget allocation towards the civic body, elevating its significance.