Himachal Pradesh Budget Session Begins Amid Revenue Grant Dispute

Himachal Pradesh Budget Session Kicks Off with Governor's Address

The fourth budget session of the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government in Himachal Pradesh began on Monday afternoon in Shimla. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla delivered the inaugural address, followed by an obituary reference to honor the departed. This session marks the 11th meeting of the current 14th legislative assembly and is anticipated to be politically charged, with significant debates expected over financial and governance matters.

Revenue Deficit Grant Discontinuation Sparks Tension

A major flashpoint in the session is the discontinuation of the revenue deficit grant (RDG) by the central government. This financial support mechanism, which Himachal Pradesh has received since 1952, has been halted, raising concerns for the cash-strapped state. The legislative assembly has received a notice seeking discussion on the implications of this stoppage, highlighting its potential impact on state finances.

Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania announced that the first phase of the session will run for three days, with possible extensions based on the volume of business. For the first time, Himachal Pradesh is adopting a phased session format similar to Parliament. The schedule for subsequent phases will be announced after the state government finalizes its legislative agenda, with proceedings on February 17 and 18 including question hour.

Budget Presentation and Key Issues on Agenda

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who also holds the finance portfolio, is expected to present the annual budget for 2026-27 in March. Last year, the budget was presented on March 17 during a session held from March 10 to 28. So far, 125 questions have been submitted by MLAs, including 111 starred queries. Notices under calling attention and private member resolution rules have also been received.

Key issues raised by legislators include:

The 'Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi' scheme
Government school mergers
Drug abuse among youth
Law and order concerns
Infrastructure projects
Tourism and horticulture development
Solar energy initiatives
Vacant government posts

All-Party Meeting and Opposition Strategy

To ensure smooth functioning, Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania convened an all-party meeting on Monday at 12:15 pm. Attendees included the parliamentary affairs minister, the leader of the opposition, the deputy chief whip of the state government, and the chief whip of the opposition BJP. The session is likely to turn stormy as the government presses for the reinstatement of the revenue deficit grant and seeks pending funds, including a Rs 1,500-crore disaster relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rs 9,042 crore under post-disaster assessment claims.

Additionally, debates are expected over the Centre's free trade agreement with New Zealand and reduced apple import duties. The opposition BJP plans to corner the government over alleged fiscal mismanagement, arguing that the state was aware the RDG would eventually stop. Other issues likely to be raised by the opposition include: