The state of state budgets

With states expected to push the reforms agenda, a mechanism is needed for assessing their budget data

Several states have by now presented their annual budgets for 2024-25. Unsurprisingly, many of them have made rosy projections and tall promises. Only time will tell if these announcements result in actual performance on the ground, either by fulfilling the promises made or through effective implementation of the policies outlined.

But going beyond the question of implementation, these budgets serve another purpose. They bring to light the actual and revised numbers that underlie those budgets presented in the last three years. The objective of this article is to use these budgets to assess how these states have done in the