Guwahati, 10 March: Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog on Monday presented the state’s Rs 2.63 lakh crore budget for the 2025-26 fiscal in the assembly, with a projected deficit of Rs 620.27 crore. The budget focuses on tax relief, industrial growth, and environmental conservation.
To provide financial relief, the government has exempted individuals earning up to Rs 15,000 per month from professional tax, benefiting over 1.43 lakh taxpayers and their families. Additionally, the tax holiday on green tea leaves has been extended for two more years to support Assam’s tea industry.
The budget also emphasizes industrial and infrastructural development. Under Advantage Assam 2.0, the state will establish industrial parks in Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Silchar, Palashbari, Jagiroad, Tezpur, and Nalbari, allocating Rs 500 crore to boost manufacturing and employment. Further, an Rs 8,000 crore township project, backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will be developed in Palashbari and Jagiroad to enhance urban infrastructure.
To tackle rising human-elephant conflicts, the government introduced the Gaja Mitra Initiative in Goalpara, Tezpur, Udalguri, Baksa, and Nagaon. AI-powered cameras will monitor elephant movements, habitats will be improved, and trained response teams will manage conflict zones.
Presenting her last full budget before the 2026 elections, Minister Neog reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic growth, sustainability, and social welfare.