In a significant engagement aimed at mapping Haryana’s economic trajectory over the coming decades, the 16th Finance Commission, led by Chairman Dr. Arvind Panagariya, held an extensive meeting with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and senior state officials in Chandigarh on Monday. The discussions focused sharply on the state’s financial management strategies, current performance metrics, and a forward-looking roadmap designed to solidify Haryana’s position as a major contributor to India’s national growth narrative.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who also holds the finance portfolio, spearheaded the deliberations, presenting a comprehensive vision for Haryana’s fiscal resilience and inclusive development. Supported by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Commissioner and Secretary of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department Dr. Amit Aggarwal, and Director General of Urban Local Bodies Department Pankaj, the leadership team illustrated Haryana’s journey from its inception in 1966 to its evolution as a formidable economic powerhouse within India’s federal structure.
One of the major highlights shared during the meeting was the projected Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Haryana, which is estimated to reach ₹6,77,033 crore for the fiscal year 2024–25. This economic dynamism is underscored by Haryana’s ranking as the second-highest state in India in terms of per capita income, standing at ₹3,53,182. In a noteworthy achievement for agrarian reform, Haryana has emerged as the first Indian state to guarantee the procurement of all crops at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), a move aimed at bolstering farmers’ incomes and ensuring agricultural sustainability.
The Commission was briefed on Haryana’s consistent efforts toward fostering inclusive growth, demonstrated by policy measures such as raising the annual income limit to ₹1.8 lakh for identifying families below the poverty line. In the health sector, progressive schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Chirayu Haryana have extended healthcare coverage to over 61.84% of the population, encompassing nearly 47 lakh families. These initiatives not only reflect Haryana’s commitment to social welfare but also illustrate effective governance despite receiving a relatively smaller share of central devolutions.
Maintaining fiscal discipline has been a cornerstone of Haryana’s administrative ethos, with the state successfully keeping its fiscal deficit and liabilities within the targets prescribed by the Finance Commission. Haryana has also cemented its position as a robust contributor to India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection, ranking fifth nationally and leading among major states in terms of per capita GST revenue. The state’s strong tax administration framework continues to drive this impressive fiscal performance.
The Commission took note of Haryana’s rapid strides toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as evidenced by its elevation from the ‘Performer’ to the ‘Front Runner’ category on India’s SDG Index, securing the 13th national rank in 2023–24. This significant leap testifies to the state’s holistic approach towards socio-economic development.
Looking towards the future, the Chief Minister shared the vision encapsulated in “Mission Haryana@2047,” a long-term plan aimed at transforming Haryana into a one-trillion-dollar economy while generating 5 million new employment opportunities. Central to this transformative agenda are strategic initiatives including the establishment of a ‘Fund of Funds’ to stimulate the startup ecosystem, the creation of dedicated Innovation Hubs, and the launch of the Haryana AI Mission aimed at equipping 50,000 youth with skills in artificial intelligence. The government is also setting up a Department of the Future to anticipate and address governance challenges through innovation and strategic foresight.
Additionally, Haryana is taking a lead in youth empowerment through its planned SANKALP Authority, a dedicated platform focusing on youth guidance and drug de-addiction, thereby tackling two pressing issues with a future-ready mindset.
During the interaction, the Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Rajesh Khullar, emphasized the state’s substantial financial commitment to social welfare schemes, especially highlighting the expansion of health coverage through the Chirayu Haryana initiative. While the Ayushman Bharat scheme initially covered only 9 lakh families, the state’s own resources have enabled health benefits for an additional 32 lakh families, a significant stride that Khullar urged the Commission to duly consider when recommending central fund allocations. He further advocated for the introduction of State-Specific Grants to support states like Haryana, which actively scale up central welfare programs to broader sections of their population.
Khullar assured that the state government would soon submit a detailed memorandum outlining Haryana’s case for a fairer division of funds under centrally sponsored schemes. His remarks underscored a broader call for equitable fiscal federalism that rewards proactive and fiscally disciplined states.
The meeting was attended by 16th Finance Commission members including Annie George Mathew, Ajay Narayan Jha, Dr. Manoj Panda, and Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, along with Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Arun Kumar Gupta, and Director General of the Department of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture K.M. Pandurang, among other senior administrative officials.
As Haryana stakes its claim as a vanguard of India’s future growth, the state’s leaders have made it clear that the path forward will be paved not only with ambitious targets but also with pragmatic reforms, fiscal discipline, and an unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. With visionary plans such as “Mission Haryana@2047” gaining momentum, Haryana seems poised to be a key architect of India’s evolving economic and social landscape over the next two decades.
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