Gujarat Finance Minister Kanubhai Desai on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) tabled the State Budget for the monetary yr 2026–27 within the State Meeting, specializing in digital governance, tourism promotion, and creation of sports infrastructure forward of the 2030 Commonwealth Video games.
With a complete outlay of ₹4,08,053 crore, the budget is the biggest ever offered within the State’s historical past. It focuses on regional progress, welfare initiatives, and sector-specific investments.
The announcement got here weeks after the Union Budget was offered on February 1, amid eager curiosity over the State’s fiscal priorities and growth roadmap for the approaching yr. In a notable visible departure, the budget doc cowl options Kansari Devi, a tribal goddess, illustrated within the conventional Warli artwork fashion.
The Budget, with an estimated surplus of ₹974 crore and no new taxes, continued the 5% tax rebate for electrical automobiles. This fiscal yr, ₹63,184 crore was allotted to the Schooling division, adopted by ₹33,504 crore to the City Growth division and ₹29,709 crore to the Roads and Buildings division. The full outlay elevated by 10.2% (₹3,70,250 crore) to ₹4,08,053 crore over the earlier monetary yr, Mr. Desai mentioned.
On the sports entrance, the Budget outlines an bold roadmap to develop Ahmedabad as an “Olympic Prepared Metropolis” within the run-up to the 2030 Commonwealth Video games, which Gujarat will host. A complete of ₹1,278 crore has been proposed for Video games-related infrastructure, together with international-standard sports complexes and stadiums, in addition to improved city transport connectivity round key venues.
The sports division has been allotted ₹1,331 crore general. Of this, ₹500 crore shall be used for creating Ahmedabad as an Olympic-ready vacation spot and for the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave. Moreover, ₹165 crore has been put aside for constructing and upgrading sports complexes in districts throughout the State.
The Budget additionally supplies ₹100 crore every for creating Olympic-level sports infrastructure at Karai and for establishing a Para Excessive Efficiency Centre in Gandhinagar, together with ₹90 crore for developing a world-class hockey stadium.
Tourism and sports infrastructure emerged as key pillars of the State Budget, with substantial allocations aimed toward boosting Gujarat’s international profile.
Declaring 2026 as ‘Gujarat Tourism Yr’, the Finance Minister mentioned the State intends to safe a stronger presence on nationwide and worldwide tourism maps. To assist this push, ₹236 crore has been allotted for upgrading infrastructure in and across the Statue of Unity, which the federal government mentioned has develop into a serious international attraction whereas producing employment, notably for tribal communities.
Additional, ₹300 crore has been proposed below the Ambaji Hall Masterplan for the great growth of the Ambaji pilgrimage centre. An extra ₹447 crore has been earmarked for developing iconic bus stations at Somnath and Ambaji and for creating a multi-modal transport hub at Somnath.
Reaffirming its deal with long-term progress, the Finance Minister mentioned the federal government stays dedicated to creating world-class infrastructure that helps financial growth whereas advancing Gujarat’s cultural and sporting ambitions on the worldwide stage.
The Budget estimates an general surplus of ₹974 crore, reflecting what the federal government described as prudent fiscal administration.
In a push in the direction of technology-driven governance, over ₹850 crore has been allotted for Synthetic Intelligence and digital governance initiatives. The federal government plans to determine a Gujarat Unified Digital Stack to combine and ship citizen companies by means of a single platform. As well as, a Information Fusion Centre and a Centre of Excellence shall be set as much as leverage AI for enhancing security and safety mechanisms.
Digital “lake and air-watch methods” shall be launched for monitoring air and water high quality.
On the taxation entrance, the Minister proposed extending the 5% rebate on Motor Automobile Tax for electrical automobiles for one other yr. The continuation of the inducement is anticipated to offer reduction of ₹210 crore to residents and additional encourage the adoption of electrical mobility within the State.
The Finance Minister mentioned the Budget has been structured round 5 key pillars — social safety, human useful resource growth, infrastructure growth, financial progress and inexperienced progress — to offer a balanced framework for the State’s progress.
He said that the overarching goal of those focus areas is to fast-track Gujarat’s transformation right into a developed state by 2047, aligning coverage priorities with long-term developmental targets.
Printed – February 19, 2026 06:59 am IST
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