Shillong, February 1: The Government of Meghalaya has welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27, presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, describing it as a fiscally disciplined and growth-oriented budget that strengthens India’s economic fundamentals and aligns closely with Meghalaya’s development priorities.
Reacting to the budget, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma lauded the Union Finance Minister for presenting a visionary roadmap that promotes inclusive and sustained economic growth.
“Heartfelt commendation to the Hon’ble Union Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman ji, for once again presenting a visionary and holistic Union Budget that lays a strong roadmap for sustained economic growth,” the Chief Minister stated on X (formerly Twitter).
“The special focus on the North East underscores the Government’s firm resolve to transform the region into a dynamic growth engine of the East,” he added, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his steadfast commitment to people-centric governance and inclusive national development.
The budget’s increase in public capital expenditure to ₹12.2 lakh crore and an enhanced outlay of ₹1.85 lakh crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) is expected to accelerate infrastructure development and attract private investment. For Meghalaya, this capital push will improve physical and digital connectivity, strengthen urban and rural infrastructure, and address challenges posed by difficult terrain and dispersed populations.
The Union Budget reaffirms the North-Eastern Region as a strategic growth frontier, introducing measures to benefit Meghalaya across sectors such as entrepreneurship, tourism, education, youth development, healthcare, agriculture, and MSMEs and women-led enterprises will strengthen local entrepreneurship; tourism-focused interventions, including skilling and digital destination frameworks, will boost Meghalaya’s nature-based and community-led tourism economy; while investments in education, skilling and youth employability will enhance human capital outcomes. Healthcare proposals aimed at strengthening allied health infrastructure and reducing treatment costs, along with targeted support for agriculture and rural livelihoods, are expected to diversify incomes and generate employment across districts.
For the financial year 2026–27, Meghalaya has been provided Finance Commission grants amounting to ₹190 crore under the Rural Local Body (RLB) Grant, ₹49 crore under the Urban Local Body (ULB) Grant, ₹63 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and ₹16.20 crore under the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF). These transfers will support grassroots governance, urban service delivery and disaster preparedness, which are particularly critical for a climate-vulnerable hill State.
