The Jharkhand government on Friday tabled a Rs 6,450 crore third supplementary budget for the financial year 2025–26 in the state Assembly, with allocations focused on rural infrastructure, social welfare, energy and health sectors.
Presenting the demands for grants in the House, Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore said the additional outlay was necessitated by emerging requirements during the current fiscal and the need to accelerate key development works. He also informed members that the full budget for the financial year 2026–27 will be presented on February 24.
The largest allocation of Rs 1,717.58 crore has been made for the Rural Works Department. The provision is expected to speed up construction of rural roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects across the state.
The Women, Child Development and Social Security Department has been earmarked Rs 779 crore to strengthen welfare schemes for women and children. The Panchayati Raj Department has been allocated Rs 657.56 crore, while the Rural Development Department is set to receive Rs 594.88 crore.
Among other key departments, Rs 281.28 crore has been proposed for the Energy Department and Rs 323.94 crore for the Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department. The Home, Prison and Disaster Management Department (Home Division) has been allocated Rs 407.21 crore.
Further provisions include Rs 300.21 crore for the Mines and Geology Department, Rs 177.97 crore for the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, Rs 159.73 crore for the Water Resources Department and Rs 105.35 crore for the Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste and Backward Class Welfare Department (Welfare Division).
In addition, the government has sought Rs 153.61 crore towards interest payments, Rs 92.21 crore for loan repayment and Rs 232.36 crore under the pension head.
Officials noted that during the first and second supplementary budgets, a cumulative demand of Rs 5,948.90 crore had already been placed for the Rural Works Department, reflecting the state’s continued emphasis on rural connectivity.
A supplementary budget is introduced when allocations made in the original budget prove insufficient or when new schemes and unforeseen expenditures arise during the financial year. The demands will now be taken up for discussion in the Assembly, where cut motions may be moved before they are put to vote.