Guwahati, July 10 -- The Assam government on Friday presented a Rs 2,85,084 crore Budget for the 2026-27 financial year, proposing to raise tax exemption limit for small tea growers by four times and cut VAT on piped natural gas by almost 10 percentage points.
Presenting his maiden Budget, Assam Finance minister Jayanta Malla Baruah also announced the continuance of all the major schemes rolled out during the last five years, but said those practising polygamy will not be eligible for any benefits and government staff found guilty of this practice will face dismissal.
Proposing a 'green cess' on polluting sectors, the government announced that two lakh people will be recruited over five years by filling existing vacancies and creating new posts across various departments.
With a deficit of Rs 419.26 crore, Baruah tabled a Rs 2,85,084.45 crore Budget and aimed a fiscal deficit of 3 per cent of the state's projected GSDP.
"To provide relief to small tea growers, I propose to enhance the agricultural income tax exemption threshold from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh of annual agricultural income," he added.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.