UP Budget 2026-27: Rs 43,565 crore earmarked for new schemes
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh government has made provisions for a host of new initiatives across sectors, with an outlay of over Rs 43,565 crore in the Budget for the financial year 2026-27 presented in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Presenting the Budget in the presence of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna detailed several proposed schemes, including the launch of the 'Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment and Industrial Zone' to promote micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), for which Rs 575 crore has been earmarked.
A new 'One District One Cuisine' (ODOC) scheme has been proposed with a provision of Rs 75 crore, while Rs 7.50 crore has been allocated for the modernisation of the blanket production centre at Khajni in Gorakhpur.
Under the Chief Minister Urban Expansion and New City Promotion Scheme, Rs 3,500 crore has been proposed. New housing schemes will be launched in Meerut after 35 years, in Agra after 33 years, in Lucknow after 22 years, and for the first time in Bulandshahr, he said in his over an hour-long budget speech.
Khanna said Rs 23 crore has been proposed for setting up a new dairy plant in Mathura. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been made for a new scheme to establish a state-of-the-art fish wholesale market, an integrated aqua park and a fish processing centre.
In the cooperative sector, Rs 25 crore has been proposed for construction of new warehouses under the world's largest foodgrain storage scheme, he said.
The budget also proposes Rs 580 crore for a new scheme to establish residential girls' schools in development blocks where Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas are not operational. A provision of around Rs 358 crore has been made to extend cashless medical facilities to teachers, non-teaching staff and contractual or honorarium-based employees of council schools.
Under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs 300 crore has been proposed from the state fund to develop all primary schools into smart schools. Additionally, Rs 300 crore has been earmarked for the maintenance of aided non-government schools found substandard in security audits.
The minister said Rs 89 crore has been proposed for providing cashless medical facilities to teachers working in aided secondary schools.
Among higher education initiatives, Rs 21 crore each has been allocated for the establishment of Swami Shukdevanand University in Shahjahanpur and Kashi Naresh University in Bhadohi.
A provision of Rs 14.50 crore has also been made for implementing a student mental health and welfare policy in higher educational institutions across the state, he added.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
