AMARAVATI: The annual budget for the fiscal year 2023–24 was presented on Thursday by Andhra Pradesh's finance minister, Buggana Rajendranath, with a total outlay of Rs. 2,79,279 crore.

Over the previous year, the expense increased by nearly 9%. For 2022–23, there was a Rs. 2,56,256 crore budget. Whereas the revenue expenditure is estimated at Rs 31,061 crore, the revenue expenditure is Rs 2,28,540 crore. While the fiscal deficit is Rs 54,587 crore, the revenue deficit is Rs 22,316 crore.

The last comprehensive budget before the Assembly elections next year, welfare remained its main concern. The finance minister allotted Rs 54,228 crore for welfare initiatives through Direct Benefit Transfer when presenting the budget to the state Assembly (DBT). From the previous year, the allocation for welfare increased by Rs 8,273 crore. In accordance with DBT, Rajendranath allotted Rs 21,434 crore for social security benefits. YSR Rythu Bharosa has been given a budget of Rs 4, 020 crore.

Andhra Fiscal Prudane: The finance minister allocated Rs 2,841.64 crore for the reimbursement of all fees, Rs 2,200 crore for Vasathi Deewena, Rs 6,500 crore for the Amma Vodi scheme, Rs 3,000 crore for the Price Stabilization Fund, Rs 3,500 crore for the Nadu Nedu scheme, and Rs 532 crore for Gadapa Gadapa Ku Mana Prabhutvam.

The government of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) set aside Rs. 20,005 crore for Scheduled Castes and Rs. 38,605 crore for Backward Classes. It set aside Rs. 4,887 crore for Kapus welfare and Rs. 4,203 crore for minorities' welfare.

The agriculture sector received Rs 11,589 crore from the ministry. The Department of Water Resources has been given Rs. 11,908 crore, the Department of Energy has been given Rs. 6,456 crore, and the Department of Housing for the Poor has been given Rs. 5,600 crore.

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