The Finance Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Rajesh Agarwal, presented the Budget for financial year 2018-19 on February 16, 2018. 

Budget Highlights

  • The Gross State Domestic Product of Uttar Pradesh for 2018-19 (at current prices) is estimated to be Rs 14,88,934 This is 8% higher than the revised estimates for 2017-18.
  • Total expenditure for 2018-19 is estimated to be Rs 4,28,385 crore, a 16.3% increase over the revised estimates of 2017-18. In 2017-18, there was a decrease of Rs 16,259 crore (4.2%) in the expenditure over the budget estimates.
  • Total receipts (excluding borrowings) for 2018-19 are estimated to be Rs 3,53,784 crore, an increase of 15.9% as compared to the revised estimates of 2017-18. In 2017-18, total receipts (excluding borrowings) fell short of the budgeted estimate by Rs 14,369 crore.
  • Revenue surplus for the next financial year is targeted at Rs 27,099 crore, or 1.82% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). Fiscal deficit is targeted at Rs 44,053 crore (2.96% of GSDP).  
  • The allocations for energy, irrigation, and rural development are estimated to witness the highest increase in allocations over the previous year. Allocations for agriculture are expected to witness a 59% decrease.

Policy Highlights

  • Healthcare: A 500-bed super speciality hospital, and paramedical and nursing college will be constructed at the Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.  Further, the emergency medicine department at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences will be expanded, and an additional 200 beds will be added.
  • The government will launch ‘Ek Janpad, Ek Utpaad’ scheme to promote artisans at the district-level.
  • The state has implemented the ‘Uttar Pradesh Khanan Neeti-2017’ for the mining The policy seeks to control illegal mining and bring transparency.  The government will implement an evolved mining system in the state, with assistance from the central government, for satellite tracking of mining activities.  
  • Solar energy: The state has set a target of generating 10,700 MW of power using solar energy by 2022.  The budget allocates Rs 25 crore for setting up grid-connected rooftop solar power plants.  Further, Rs 30 crore has been allocated for the Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Solar Street Light scheme.
  • Rs 2f50 crore has been allocated for establishing a start-up fund in the state.

Uttar Pradesh’s Economy

·   Economy: The GSDP of Uttar Pradesh has grown in the range of 4% to 8% between 2012-13 and 2016-17. 

·   The services sector with a share of 51% in the GSDP grew by 7% in 2016-17 over the previous year.  Agriculture, which contributes 25% to the GSDP grew by 6.8%.  Manufacturing with a share of 24% grew by 5.1% in 2016-17.

·   Per capita income:  The per capita GSDP of Uttar Pradesh in 2016-17 (at current prices) was Rs 58,626.  This is 12% higher than 2015-16, when the per capita GSDP was Rs 52, 320.

Figure 1: Growth in GSDP and sectors (year-on-year)

Source: Central Statistics Office; PRS.

 Budget Estimates for 2018-19

  • The total expenditure in 2018-19 is targeted at Rs 4,28,385 crore. This is 16.3% higher than the revised estimates of 2017-18.  This expenditure is proposed to be met through receipts (other than borrowings) of Rs 3,53,784 crore and borrowings of Rs 67,115 crore.  Total receipts for 2018-19 (other than borrowings) are expected to be 15.9% higher than the revised estimates of 2017-18. 

Table 1: Budget 2018-19 - Key figures (Rs crore)

Items

2016-17 Actuals

2017-18 Budgeted

2017-18 Revised

% change from BE 2017-18 to RE of 2017-18

2018-19 Budgeted

% change from RE 2017-18 to BE 2018-19

Total Expenditure

3,33,425

3,84,660

3,68,401

-4.2%

4,28,385

16.3%

A. Borrowings

67,685

57,509

54,853

-4.6%

67,115

22.4%

B. Receipts (except borrowings)

2,57,134

3,19,682

3,05,313

-4.5%

3,53,784

15.9%

Total Receipts (A+B)

3,24,819

3,77,191

3,60,166

-4.5%

4,20,899

16.9%

Revenue Surplus

20,283

12,279

18,515

50.8%

27,099

46.4%

As % of GSDP

1.63%

0.85%

1.34%

 

1.82%

 

Fiscal Deficit

-55,989

-42,968

-41,074

-4.4%

-44,053

7.3%

As % of GSDP

-4.49%

-2.97%

-2.98%

 

-2.96%

 

Primary Deficit

-29,053

-9,756

-10,796

10.7%

-11,620

7.6%

As % of GSDP

-2.33%

-0.67%

-0.78%

 

-0.78%

 

Notes: BE is Budget Estimate; RE is Revised Estimate.  ‘-’ sign indicates deficit; ‘+’ indicates surplus.

Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Expenditure in 2018-19

  • Capital expenditure for 2018-19 is proposed to be Rs 1,06,864 crore, which is an increase of 30.5% over the revised estimates of 2017-18. This includes expenditure which affects the assets and liabilities of the state, and leads to creation of assets (such as bridges and hospital), and repayment of loans, among others. 

Uttar Pradesh is expected to spend Rs 11,564 crore on subsidies in 2018-19, which is 15% higher than the budget estimates of 2017-18.  Out of the allocations for 2018-19, Rs 6,200 crore will be for energy, and Rs 2,067 crore for agriculture.

The state is estimated to spend Rs 45,495 crore on pensions, a 22% increase over 2017-18.

  • Revenue expenditure for 2018-19 is proposed to be Rs 3,21,520 crore, which is an increase of 12.2% over revised estimates of 2017-18. This expenditure includes payment of salaries, maintenance, etc. 
  • In 2018-19, Uttar Pradesh is expected to spend Rs 62,980 crore on servicing its debt (i.e., Rs 30,547 crore on repaying loans, and Rs 32,434 crore on interest payments. This is 20.4% higher than the revised estimates of 2017-18. 

Table 2: Expenditure budget 2018-19 (Rs crore)

Item

2016-17 Actuals

2017-18 Budgeted

2017-18 Revised

% change from BE 2017-18 to RE 2017-18

2018-19 Budgeted

% change from RE 2017-18 to BE 2018-19

Capital Expenditure

96,833

     77,541

81,887

5.6%

1,06,864

30.5%

Revenue Expenditure

2,36,592

3,07,119

2,86,514

-6.7%

3,21,520

12.2%

Total Expenditure

3,33,425

3,84,660

3,68,401

-4.2%

4,28,385

16.3%

A. Debt Repayment

20,303

22,010

22,014

0.0%

30,547

38.8%

B. Interest Payments

26,936

33,212

30,278

-8.8%

32,434

7.1%

Debt Servicing (A+B)

47,238

55,222

52,292

-5.3%

62,980

20.4%

 Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.
Sector expenditure in 2018-19

The departments listed below account for 57% of the total budgeted expenditure of Uttar Pradesh in 2018-19.  A comparison of Uttar Pradesh’s expenditure on key sectors with 18 other states can be found in the Annexure.

Table 3: Sector-wise expenditure for Uttar Pradesh Budget 2018-19 (Rs crore)

Item

2016-17 Actuals

2017-18 Budgeted

2017-18 Revised

2018-19 Budgeted

% change from RE 2017-18 to BE 2018-19

Budget Provisions for 2018-19

Education

49,000

62,351

56,993

63,213

10.90%

Out of this amount: (i) Rs 50,142 crore will be spent on primary education, (ii) Rs 9,387 crore on secondary education, and (iii) Rs 2,656 crore on higher education.

Social Welfare

26,364

29,511

31,278

32,019

2.40%

Rs 2,560 crore has been allocated for the ‘Vridhavasta evam Kisan Pension’ scheme for 2018-19. 

Energy

33,977

17,728

18,061

27,575

52.70%

62% of this allocation is for revenue expenses (such as payment of interests and subsidy), and the 38% is on capital expenses.

Public Works

23,749

19,237

19,525

22,224

13.80%

Gorakhpur Link Expressway has been allocated Rs 550 crore.  Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated for the Purvanchal Expressway.  Rs 500 crore has been allocated for the Agra-Lucknow Expressway.

Medical and Public Health

14,340

17,181

16,839

20,157

19.70%

The state will operationalise 170 national mobile medical units through the PPP model.  100 new ayurvedic hospitals will be established.

Rural Development

10,436

15,821

15,949

19,733

23.70%

Out of this, Rs 2,923 crore will be spent on roads and bridges, and Rs 1,166 crore will be spent on housing.

Home

15,360

17,325

16,058

18,515

15.30%

Out of the allocations, Rs 17,136 crore is proposed to be spent on police (93%).

Irrigation

10,683

10,958

10,856

14,291

31.60%

The Saryu Nehar Programme has been allocated Rs 1,614 crore.  Madhya Ganga Nehar Programme has been allocated Rs 1,701 crore.

Panchayati Raj

11,058

12,278

12,738

14,228

11.70%

Rs 5,000 crore has been allocated for the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin).

Urban Development

6,238

13,189

13,144

13,484

2.60%

Rs 1,650 crore has been allocated for the Smart Cities Mission.  Cities selected under the Mission are Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Varanasi, Allahabad, Aligarh, Jhansi, Moradabad, Bareli, and Saharanpur.

Agriculture

6,046

39,583

28,387

11,589

-59.20%

The allocations are 59% lower than 2017-18.  Note that the state had implemented a farm loan waiver in 2017-18, resulting in higher spending during the year.

% of total expenditure

59%

66%

62%

57%

 

 

Source: Uttar Pradesh Budget Speech 2018-19 and Demands for Grants; PRS.

  • During 2017-18, Uttar Pradesh is expected to spend more than its budget estimates on sectors such as social welfare (6%), panchayati raj (3.7%), energy (1.9%), and public works (1.5%). It is expected to spend less than the budget estimate on agriculture (28.3%), education (8.6%), and home (7.3%).   

Receipts in 2018-19

Uttar Pradesh witnessed a 15% fall in tax revenue collections during 2017-18 over the budget estimates.  Collections from stamp duty were 28% lower than the budget estimates.

  • The total revenue receipts for 2018-19 are estimated to be Rs 3,48,619 crore, an increase of 14.3% over the revised estimates of 2017-18. Of this, Rs 1,51,522 crore (43% of the revenue receipts) will be raised by the state through its own resources, and Rs 1,97,098 crore (57% of the revenue receipts) will be devolved by the centre in the form of grants and the state’s share in taxes. 
  • Non Tax Revenue: Uttar Pradesh has estimated to generate Rs 28,822 crore through non-tax sources in 2018-19. This is an increase of 64.7% over the revised estimates of 2017-18.  This is driven by a 187% increase (Rs 8,271 crore) in receipts from the sinking fund (typically maintained to repay debt).    

Table 4: Break up of state government receipts (Rs crore)

Item

2016-2017 Actuals

2017-2018 Budgeted

2017-18 Revised

% change from BE 2017-18 to RE 2017-18

2018-2019 Budgeted

% change from RE 2017-18 to BE 2018-19

State's Own Tax

85,966

1,11,502

94,959

-14.8%

1,22,700

29.2%

State's Own Non-Tax

28,944

18,437

17,502

-5.1%

28,822

64.7%

Share in Central Taxes

1,09,428

1,21,407

1,21,407

0.0%

1,33,548

10.0%

Grants-in-aid from Centre

32,537

68,052

71,161

4.6%

63,549

-10.7%

Total Revenue Receipts

2,56,875

3,19,397

3,05,029

-4.5%

3,48,619

14.3%

Borrowings

67,685

57,509

54,853

-4.6%

67,115

22.4%

Other receipts

259

284

284

0.0%

5,165

1717.5%

Total Capital Receipts

67,944

57,793

55,137

-4.6%

72,280

31.1%

Total Receipts

3,24,819

3,77,191

3,60,166

-4.5%

4,20,899

16.9%

Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

  • Tax Revenue: Total own tax revenue of Uttar Pradesh is estimated to be Rs 1,22,700 crore in 2018-19.  The composition of the state’s tax revenue is shown in Figure 2.  The tax to GSDP ratio is targeted at 8.2% in 2018-19, which is higher than the revised estimate of 6.9% in 2017-18.  This implies that growth in collection of taxes is expected to be higher than the growth in the economy (8%).

Figure 2: Composition of Tax Revenue in 2018-19 (BE)

State Goods and Services Tax (GST) is expected to be the largest component of Uttar Pradesh’s own tax revenue in 2018-19.  It is expected to generate Rs 49,422 crore (40% of the own tax revenue). 

The state is expected to generate Rs 23,000 crore through the state excise duty.  This is 19% higher than revised estimates of 2017-18.  Further, the state is expected to raise Rs 22,078 crore from the levy of sales tax on items such as alcohol for human consumption and petroleum products. 

Tax revenue will also be generated by levying stamp duty on real estate transactions, taxes on vehicles, and land revenue.

 Deficits, Debts and FRBM Targets for 2018-19

The Uttar Pradesh Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2004 provides annual targets to progressively reduce the outstanding liabilities, revenue deficit and fiscal deficit of the state government. 

Uttar Pradesh had targeted a fiscal deficit of 4% at the budget stage for 2016-17.  It exceeded this target with the actual fiscal deficit being 4.49% for the year. 

Revenue deficit:  It is the excess of revenue expenditure over revenue receipts.  A revenue deficit implies that the government needs to borrow in order to finance its expenses which do not create capital assets. 

The budget estimates a revenue surplus of Rs 27,099 crore (or 1.82% of GSDP) in 2018-19.  This implies that revenue receipts are expected to be higher than the revenue expenditure, resulting in a surplus.  The estimate indicates that the state is within the target of eliminating revenue deficit, prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.

Fiscal deficit:  It is the excess of total expenditure over total receipts.  This gap is filled by borrowings by the government, and leads to an increase in total liabilities.  In 2018-19, fiscal deficit is estimated to be Rs 44,053 crore, which is 2.96% of the GSDP.  The estimate is within the 3% limit prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.  This limit may be relaxed to a maximum of 3.5%, if states are able to contain their debt and interest payments to certain specified levels.

Outstanding Liabilities:  It is the accumulation of borrowings over the years.  In 2018-19, the outstanding liabilities are expected at 29.8% of the GSDP.

Table 5: Budget targets for deficits for Uttar Pradesh (% of GSDP)

Year

Revenue
Deficit
(-)/Surplus (+)

Fiscal
Deficit
(-)/Surplus (+)  

Outstanding Liabilities

2016-17

1.63%

-4.49%

29.90%

2017-18 (RE)

1.30%

-2.98%

29.50%

2018-19 (BE)

1.80%

-2.96%

29.80%

2019-20

2.10%

-2.90%

29.10%

2020-21

2.50%

-2.94%

29.10%

Note: ‘-’ means data not available.  Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents 2018-19; PRS.

Figures 3 and 4 show the trend in deficits and outstanding liabilities targets from 2016-17 to 2018-19:

Figure 3: Revenue and Fiscal Deficit (as % of GSDP)

Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents; PRS. 

Figure 4:Outstanding liabilities targets (as % of GSDP)

Sources: Uttar Pradesh Budget Documents; PRS. 

 Annexure

The graphs below compare Uttar Pradesh’s expenditure on four key sectors as a proportion of its total budget, with 18 other states.[1] 

  • Education: Uttar Pradesh has allocated 14.5% of its total budget on education in 2018-19.  This is lower than the average expenditure allocated to education by 18 other states (using 2017-18 BE). 
  • Rural development: Uttar Pradesh has allocated 5.9% of its expenditure on rural development.  This is higher than the average (5.6%) of the 18 other states.
  • Health: Uttar Pradesh has allocated 5.5% of its total expenditure on health, which is higher than the average expenditure of 18 other states.
  • Agriculture: The state has allocated 3.5% of its total budget towards agriculture and allied activities.  This is lower than the allocations of 18 other states (6.4%).

Note:  2016-17, 2017-18 (BE), 2017-18 (RE), and 2018-19 (BE) figures are for Uttar Pradesh.

Source: Annual Financial Statement (2017-18 and 2018-19), various state budgets; PRS.

 

[1] The 18 states apart from Uttar Pradesh are: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal.

 

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