Gangtok: The first day of the four-day Budget Session of the Eleventh Sikkim Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday with Governor Om Prakash Mathur’s address, followed by the presentation of the General Budget for the financial year 2026-27 by Chief Minister and Finance Minister Prem Singh Tamang. The government proposed a gross expenditure of ₹19,215 crore, outlining a development roadmap focused on infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, social welfare and sustainable growth.
Presenting the Budget in the Assembly, Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang proposed a gross expenditure of ₹19,215 crore for 2026-27, with a net expenditure of ₹18,455 crore after accounting for recoveries. Revenue expenditure has been estimated at ₹11,733 crore, while capital expenditure stands at ₹5,896 crore, excluding loans and advances. In addition, ₹2,460 crore has been earmarked under Centrally Sponsored Schemes.
The Chief Minister said the Budget would be financed through the State’s own revenues, transfers from the Government of India and prudent borrowings, with allocations prioritising good governance, infrastructure development and social welfare.
Highlighting the state’s economic performance, Tamang informed the House that Sikkim has recorded an average real Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) growth of over 12.6 per cent during the past eight years and currently has the highest per capita GSDP in the country. The state’s GSDP at current prices is projected to reach ₹62,973 crore in 2026-27.
Reaffirming the government’s vision of Viksit Sikkim @2047, he said the state aims to sustain an annual GSDP growth of over 13 per cent through sound governance, strategic investments and citizen-centric development while maintaining fiscal responsibility and sustainable debt levels.
The Budget announced several sector-specific initiatives. To strengthen agriculture, the government will introduce a State Interest Subvention Scheme, enabling eligible farmers who repay Kisan Credit Card crop loans on time to access credit at an effective interest rate of one per cent. The government also announced the Mero Alaichi, Mero Dhan Mission to revive the large cardamom sector through scientific research, disease-resistant varieties and farmer field laboratories.
In infrastructure, around 570 kilometres of roads will be upgraded using Mastic Asphalt Surfacing at an estimated cost of ₹546 crore to improve durability and all-weather connectivity. The government will also continue implementing the Asian Development Bank-assisted Sikkim Power Sector Development Project and informed the House that over 92,000 smart meters have already been installed across the state. Plans were also announced for satellite townships around Gangtok, the revitalisation of the capital’s historic core and further expansion of digital governance systems including e-Budget, e-Payment and Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer.
Earlier, inaugurating the Budget Session, Governor Om Prakash Mathur described the 2026-27 Budget as a roadmap towards a “Sunaulo, Samriddha ani Samarth Sikkim”, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.
Congratulating the people of Sikkim on the completion of 50 years of Statehood, the Governor highlighted the significance of the visits by the President, Prime Minister and Vice President during the Golden Jubilee celebrations. He also referred to major achievements including Sikkim being declared a Fully Literate State, the conferment of the President’s Colour on Sikkim Police, the launch of the Aama Didi Bahini Pink Bus Service and recognition of Sikkim as India’s first Paperless Judiciary.
The Governor said the Budget focuses on strengthening tourism, organic agriculture, horticulture, infrastructure and connectivity while supporting the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. He also outlined five strategic priorities—strengthening productive sectors, improving infrastructure and connectivity, investing in human capital, promoting environmentally sustainable growth and ensuring planned urbanisation.
During his Budget speech, the Chief Minister also announced major healthcare initiatives. These include a statewide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) screening programme covering around 1.5 lakh women aged 30 to 65 years to eliminate cervical cancer, operationalisation of Sikkim’s first Renal Transplant Programme at STNM Hospital during the current financial year and the establishment of an Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre to address declining fertility rates.
He further announced that the Sikkim Government Medical College at Sochakgang will commence admissions with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students from the academic year 2026-27.
The Chief Minister said the government will continue to strengthen education, skill development and entrepreneurship through the Sikkim INSPIRES programme, which is expected to benefit over three lakh women and youth through employment generation, entrepreneurship support and specialised training in tourism, adventure sports and emerging creative industries.
The Assembly also witnessed the introduction of six Bills, including the Sikkim Medical Council for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2026, which seeks to establish a statutory council to regulate Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa and Homeopathy practitioners in the state.
Among education-related legislations introduced were amendments to the Sikkim Private Universities (Establishment and Regulation) Act, 2025, paving the way for the proposed Scholars University of Skills & Innovation at Melli, amendments to the Board of Open Schooling and Skill Education Act, and a Bill to establish the Board of Open Schooling and Vocational Education, Sikkim.
The House also introduced the National Council for Skill Education, Sikkim (Repealing) Bill, 2026, and the Sikkim Fire and Emergency Services (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at decriminalising minor regulatory offences to promote ease of doing business.
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