CM confirms Budget will be presented on March 26

PANAJI

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will present the 2025-26 State Budget on March 26.

The three-day Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly is scheduled from March 24-26. The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the State Legislative Assembly met on Wednesday to discuss the House business. During the meeting, opposition raised concerns over the short duration of the session while pressing for a longer Monsoon session.

Sawant, who holds the Finance Portfolio, will place the State Financial Statement on March 26 and will seek Vote on Account for four months. Budget would be passed during the monsoon session in July.

Speaking to media persons post meeting, Sawant confirmed that he will present the Budget on March 26 while it would be passed during the Monsoon Session. “Will be taking the vote on account,” he said.

Total 728 questions have been raised by the MLAs for the three-day session of which 180 are starred questions while another 548 are unstarred.

Responding to the opposition’s concern, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said that BAC does not decide the sitting of the House but only deliberates on the business to be conducted. “The decision pertaining to the number of session days is taken by the government and the cabinet,” he said.

The opposition parties have criticised the state government over the short tenure of the budget session. Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai did not attend the meeting citing health conditions. He, however, in a letter to the Speaker said that BAC is a mere formality. He said that he is against the manner in which BAC meetings are conducted.

Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that technically this being a Budget session, should have been an extensive session as the winter session was also of short duration. “I have submitted my strong objection to the Speaker,” he said, pointing out that three-days are mandatory for discussion on the Governor's Address which is not allowed.