Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang presented an INR 19,215 crore budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the State Assembly, with infrastructure development, healthcare, social welfare and good governance emerging as the key priorities. Tamang, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the state's higher public investment has been supported by stronger state revenues, disciplined fiscal management and additional financial assistance from the Central Government as well as externally aided projects. 
The budget proposes a gross expenditure of INR 19,215 crore, while the net expenditure has been estimated at INR 18,455 crore after accounting for recoveries. 
The Chief Minister informed the Assembly that the budget would be financed through the state's own revenues, transfers from the Government of India and prudent borrowings. He said the government has prioritised allocations towards governance, infrastructure development and social welfare while maintaining fiscal discipline. 
According to the budget estimates, revenue expenditure has been pegged at INR 11,733 crore, while capital expenditure, excluding loans and advances, has been estimated at INR 5,896 crore. The government has also earmarked INR 2,460 crore as the state's contribution towards Centrally Sponsored Schemes to support development projects across multiple sectors. 
Highlighting the state's economic performance, Tamang said Sikkim has recorded an average real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth of more than 12.6 per cent over the past eight years, making it one of the country's fastest-growing states. He added that Sikkim continues to have the highest per capita GSDP in India and has registered improvements in human development indicators, poverty reduction and household incomes. 
Reiterating the government's Vision Viksit Sikkim @2047, he said the state aims to maintain an average annual GSDP growth of over 13 per cent through better governance, strategic investments and citizen-focused development. The state's GSDP at current prices is projected to reach INR 62,973 crore during FY2026-27. 
Healthcare received significant attention in the budget. The government announced a statewide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening programme that will cover nearly 1.5 lakh women between the ages of 30 and 65 as part of its cervical cancer prevention initiative. 
The Chief Minister also announced that Sikkim's first Renal Transplant Programme will become operational at STNM Hospital, allowing kidney transplant procedures to be carried out within the state and reducing the need for patients to seek treatment elsewhere. 
In another major healthcare and education initiative, the Sikkim Government Medical College at Sochakgang is scheduled to begin admissions with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students from the 2026-27 academic session. The government also plans to establish an Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre at STNM Hospital to address the state's declining fertility rate. 
The Assembly will take up discussions and pass demands for grants of various departments during the remaining days of the session, Speaker M.N. Sherpa informed the House. 
At the beginning of the Assembly session, Governor Om Prakash Mathur outlined the government's vision for inclusive and sustainable development. He said the 2026-27 budget serves as a roadmap towards building a "Sunaulo, Samriddha ani Samarth" Sikkim, reflecting the government's commitment to balanced economic growth, environmental conservation, employment generation, women's empowerment and improved public service delivery. 
The Governor also congratulated the people of Sikkim on completing 50 years of statehood and noted that the visits of the President, Prime Minister and Vice President during the Golden Jubilee celebrations reflected the state's growing national importance. 
Speaking about the budget's long-term direction, he said higher investments in tourism, organic agriculture, horticulture, infrastructure and connectivity are expected to create new opportunities while contributing to the national Vision Viksit Bharat @2047. He identified strengthening productive sectors, improving infrastructure and connectivity, investing in human capital, promoting environmentally sustainable growth and ensuring planned urbanisation as the state's five strategic priorities. 
Mathur further noted that Sikkim has recorded a decline in suicide cases over the past three years, which he attributed to sustained mental health support and suicide prevention programmes. He added that the government remains committed to strengthening education, healthcare, tourism, entrepreneurship, skill development, environmental conservation and women's empowerment while ensuring that future development remains aligned with Sikkim's natural environment and cultural heritage. 
Sikkim has consistently maintained a strong focus on sustainable development, balancing economic expansion with environmental conservation. The state has also been among the country's leaders in organic farming and eco-tourism, while recent budgets have steadily increased allocations towards infrastructure, healthcare and social welfare to improve public services and support long-term economic growth. 
Source PTI