Omar, Reps from States/UTs attend
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 10: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today chaired a high-level pre-budget consultation meeting with representatives of States and Union Territories with Legislatures as part of the preparatory process for the Union budget 2026-27 which she is scheduled to present in the Parliament on February 1.
Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary was also present at the meeting, which saw participation from a wide cross-section of political and administrative leadership.
Jammu and Kashmir was represented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who holds charge of the Finance Department and will present his second budget in the Legislature session beginning here on February 2 with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address.
“Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today participated in the pre-budget consultations in New Delhi, chaired by the Union Finance Minister, and shared key perspectives and concerns of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir for Union budget 2026–27. He emphasized the need for stronger institutional support to address J&K’s fiscal challenges,” read a post on X handle of Chief Minister’s Office.
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The meeting was held in New Delhi and focused on gathering inputs from States on fiscal priorities, development needs and cooperative federalism.
The Governor of Manipur, Chief Ministers of Delhi, Goa, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Meghalaya and Sikkim, as well as Deputy Chief Ministers of Arunachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Telangana attended the meeting.
The Finance Ministers of various States and Union Territories, senior officials of the Ministry of Finance and Secretaries from the Departments of Economic Affairs, Expenditure and Revenue were also part of the discussions.
Emphasizing the importance of States in India’s growth story, Sitharaman said the Centre values the “constructive and pragmatic suggestions” of State Governments in shaping a Budget that reflects grassroots priorities.
“The Union budget must respond to the aspirations of States while ensuring macroeconomic stability and inclusive growth,” she reportedly said.
Several States are understood to have raised issues related to enhanced capital expenditure support, flexibility in borrowing limits, timely release of Central funds and greater allocations for social sector schemes. Infrastructure development, employment generation, green growth and strengthening of State finances were among the key themes discussed during the deliberations.
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said the pre-budget consultations underlined the Government’s commitment to cooperative federalism.
“Inputs from States and Union Territories play a crucial role in framing policies that are balanced, growth-oriented and responsive to regional needs,” he noted.
Pre-Budget consultations with States and UTs are a long-standing practice aimed at incorporating regional perspectives into the national fiscal framework. These meetings are part of a broader series of stakeholder consultations being held by the Finance Ministry ahead of the presentation of the Union Budget
The Finance Minister is scheduled to present her eighth consecutive Union budget in the Parliament on February 1, falling on Sunday.
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