RECENT STATE BUDGETS (2017-18): WHO’S THE SMARTEST OF THEM ALL?

Maharashtra: Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar presented Budget 2017-18 with a fiscal deficit of 1.53 per cent and revenue deficit of 0.18 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). Allocations rose for public works, school education and tribal welfare; agriculture, energy and home saw a decrease. Telangana: Finance Minister Eatala Rajendar’s Budget reported a 14.6 per cent rise in gross domestic product (GDP) over the previous year’s revised estimate. The state has a revenue surplus of 0.61 per cent of the GSDP. However, the fiscal deficit was 3.49 per cent. The departments of panchayat raj, major and medium irrigation, and social welfare schemes saw increases in allocations; agriculture witnessed a decrease. Karnataka: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also the finance minister, presented a Budget with 15 per cent higher spending than the revised estimate for 2016-17. A revenue surplus for 2017-18 is targeted at ~137 crore or 0.01 per cent of GSDP. The fiscal deficit is targeted at ~33,359 crore (2.61 per cent of GSDP). Delhi: Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Manish Sisodia presented the Budget. GSDP for 201617 is estimated 13 per cent higher than the 2015-16 estimate. GSDP estimates for 2017-18 are not available. Allocations to the development sector, including environment and irrigation, increased 67 per cent, followed by a 24 per cent rise for medical and public health, and 18 per cent increase in education, over the revised estimate for 2016-17. Kerala: GSDP was 12.8 per cent higher than the revised estimate for 2016-17. The revenue deficit for the next financial year is targeted at 2.14 per cent of GSDP and the fiscal deficit at 3.44 per cent. The departments of rural development, education and health care saw increases in allocations; social security and welfare witnessed a decrease.