Gujarat's Public Debt Climbs to Rs 3.99 Lakh Crore in 2024-25
The Gujarat government disclosed in the state assembly on Thursday that its public debt has increased significantly, reaching Rs 3.99 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. This marks a notable rise from the previous year's debt of Rs 3.52 lakh crore in 2023-24, highlighting ongoing financial pressures on the state's economy.
Detailed Debt Repayment Figures Revealed
In response to a query from Shaherkotda Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar, the government provided a written statement outlining the debt repayment details. For the 2023-24 period, the state repaid Rs 26,136 crore as principal and Rs 24,964 crore as interest. In the subsequent year, 2024-25, these amounts increased to Rs 29,086 crore for principal repayment and Rs 25,945 crore for interest, indicating a higher financial burden in servicing the debt.
Complaints Over Teachers' Non-Academic Work
Separately, the assembly addressed concerns about education quality. Patan Congress MLA Kirit Patel raised a question regarding teachers being assigned non-teaching tasks, which adversely impacted student learning. The government reported receiving 10 such complaints over the past two years. In response, it issued a notification emphasizing that teachers should not be given non-teaching duties, except for those deemed of national interest, to safeguard educational standards.
No New Additions to Smart City Mission
In another development, the government confirmed that no new cities from Gujarat have been added to the Smart City Mission project in the last two years. This information was provided in reply to a question by Anklav Congress MLA Amit Chavda, who sought details on city inclusions as of December 31, 2025. The lack of new additions suggests a pause or reevaluation in the state's urban development initiatives under this central scheme.
Key Takeaways:
- Gujarat's public debt rose to Rs 3.99 lakh crore in 2024-25, up from Rs 3.52 lakh crore in 2023-24.
- Debt repayments increased, with higher principal and interest payments in 2024-25 compared to the previous year.
- Ten complaints were filed about teachers handling non-academic work, prompting government action to limit such assignments.
- No new Gujarat cities were included in the Smart City Mission over the past two years, indicating a slowdown in project expansion.
