West Bengal State Budget 2024-25 Analysis
Budget EstimateTotal expenditure, revenue receipts, fiscal deficit, and department-wise allocation for West Bengal FY 2024-25
West Bengal State Budget 2024-25 Budget at a Glance
Total Receipts
Rs 2.36 lakh crore
+13.2%
Total Expenditure
Rs 3.04 lakh crore
+13.7%
Fiscal Deficit
3.6%
Rs 68,250 crore
Capital Expenditure
Rs 35,866 crore
+17.5%
Tax Revenue
Rs 1.02 lakh crore
+10.4%
Interest Payments
Rs 45,269 crore
15% of expenditure
West Bengal Revenue Receipts 2024-25
Own tax revenue vs non-tax revenue breakdown
West Bengal Expenditure Breakdown 2024-25
Revenue vs Capital spending and department allocation
Revenue vs Capital Split
Top 10 Departments by Allocation
Fiscal Deficit as % of GSDP โ West Bengal 2024-25
The fiscal deficit for West Bengal in 2024-25 is 3.6% of GSDP (Rs 68,250 crore), reflecting the state's borrowing needs to fund development programmes.
States are expected to maintain fiscal deficit within 3% of GSDP as per the FRBM Act. West Bengal's deficit is above this threshold, driven by higher capital spending needs.
Interest payments at Rs 45,269 crore consume 14.9% of total expenditure.
West Bengal State Budget 2024-25 โ Receipts & Expenditure Summary
| Particulars | Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| A. Total Receipts | Rs 3.58 lakh crore | 100% |
| 1. Revenue Receipts | Rs 2.36 lakh crore | 66.0% |
| a. Own Tax Revenue | Rs 1.02 lakh crore | 28.6% |
| b. Non-Tax Revenue | Rs 6,317 crore | 1.8% |
| B. Total Expenditure | Rs 3.04 lakh crore | 100% |
| 1. Revenue Expenditure | Rs 2.68 lakh crore | 88.2% |
| 2. Capital Expenditure | Rs 35,866 crore | 11.8% |
| of which: Interest Payments | Rs 45,269 crore | 14.9% |
| C. Fiscal Deficit | Rs 68,250 crore | 3.6% of GSDP |
Source: West Bengal State Budget Documents via PRS India. All figures in Indian Rupees.
West Bengal Department-wise Expenditure 2024-25
Top departments by allocation in West Bengal for 2024-25
| Department โ | Revenue โ | Capital โ | Total โ | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Education | Rs 38,000 crore | Rs 3,000 crore | Rs 41,000 crore | 13.5% |
2. Rural Development | Rs 19,500 crore | Rs 4,200 crore | Rs 23,700 crore | 7.8% |
3. Health & Family Welfare | Rs 16,000 crore | Rs 2,500 crore | Rs 18,500 crore | 6.1% |
4. Social Welfare | Rs 16,000 crore | Rs 1,700 crore | Rs 17,700 crore | 5.8% |
5. Police & Home | Rs 14,000 crore | Rs 1,700 crore | Rs 15,700 crore | 5.2% |
6. Agriculture & Allied | Rs 12,000 crore | Rs 2,000 crore | Rs 14,000 crore | 4.6% |
7. Urban Development | Rs 10,500 crore | Rs 3,500 crore | Rs 14,000 crore | 4.6% |
8. Transport & Roads | Rs 7,000 crore | Rs 6,000 crore | Rs 13,000 crore | 4.3% |
9. Water Supply & Sanitation | Rs 4,800 crore | Rs 3,800 crore | Rs 8,600 crore | 2.8% |
10. Water Resources & Irrigation | Rs 3,800 crore | Rs 4,200 crore | Rs 8,000 crore | 2.6% |
West Bengal Budget 2024-25 Analysis & Highlights
Key Highlights
- Total expenditure at Rs 3,40,000 crore as the TMC government continues welfare-heavy spending.
- Fiscal deficit at Rs 70,000 crore โ approximately 4.1% of GSDP.
- Lakshmir Bhandar scheme expanded to Rs 1,000/month for general category women, Rs 1,200 for SC/ST.
- Outstanding debt approaches Rs 6,10,000 crore with interest payments at Rs 48,000 crore.
- Swasthya Sathi health insurance covers 2.1 crore families with Rs 5 lakh annual coverage.
- Education spending at Rs 42,000 crore focuses on school infrastructure and Kanyashree continuation.
- Capital expenditure at Rs 42,000 crore targets metro rail and state highway expansion.
- Tax revenue growth target of 13% relies on improved GST compliance and property tax reform.
- Agriculture spending emphasises Krishak Bandhu income support for small and marginal farmers.
- Kolkata port and Haldia dock modernisation receive Rs 2,500 crore.
- Debt-to-GSDP ratio at 34.5%, among the highest for non-special-category states.
Compare West Bengal Budget โ Recent Years
Year-over-year comparison of key fiscal metrics
| Metric | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditure | โ | โ | โ | Rs 2.67 lakh crore | Rs 3.04 lakh crore |
| Revenue Receipts | โ | โ | โ | Rs 2.09 lakh crore | Rs 2.36 lakh crore |
| Capital Expenditure | โ | โ | โ | Rs 30,537 crore | Rs 35,866 crore |
| Fiscal Deficit (% GSDP) | โ | โ | โ | 3.5% | 3.6% |
| Own Tax Revenue | โ | โ | โ | Rs 92,742 crore | Rs 1.02 lakh crore |
Columns showing "โ" will populate as more data is ingested. Data from official budget documents via PRS India.
Understanding West Bengal State Budget 2024-25
The West Bengal state budget is the annual financial plan presented in the state legislature. It covers all revenue receipts, expenditure allocations across departments, and fiscal deficit management. State budgets are critical because states handle key development areas including education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
West Bengal Revenue Sources
State revenue comes from three sources: own tax revenue (state GST, stamp duty, excise, vehicle tax), non-tax revenue (fees, fines, interest), and transfers from the Centre (share of central taxes as per Finance Commission recommendations, plus grants-in-aid for specific schemes).
Fiscal Deficit and State Borrowing
Under the FRBM framework, states target a fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP. States can borrow from the market via State Development Loans (SDLs), and the central government also provides loans. The RBI manages the borrowing calendar for states to ensure orderly market conditions.
Explore More
Compare West Bengal with other states
Side-by-side comparison of fiscal metrics across Indian states