CM Siddaramaiah’s focus on getting revenue deficit grants for 2025-26 budget
New Indian ExpressBENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is all set to start department-wise review meetings for the 2025-26 budget, is likely to chalk out a plan meticulously to draw the attention of the 16th Finance Commission to get revenue deficit grants from the Centre. Sources told TNIE that he may not stick to presenting a surplus budget, but would showcase the gap in state’s revenue and expenditure to help get revenue deficit grants from the Centre based on the commission’s recommendations. The 15th commission had recommended neighbouring states, especially Kerala for Rs 37,814-crore revenue deficit grant between 2020-21 and 2025-26, of which it received Rs 34.648, the sources said. 2024-2025 budget was Rs 27,354-crore revenue deficit There would be new tax on mineral-bearing lands, hike in royalty on minor minerals, apart from hike in excise duty for revenue generation and more stress would be on capital expenditure.