The TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government presented its Budget for 2025-26, announcing the implementation of two more welfare schemes from its ‘super six’ election guarantees – Thalliki Vandanam and Annadata Sukhibhava.
An amount of Rs 9,407 crore has been earmarked for the Thalliki Vandanam scheme, one of the pending guarantees which will come into force in the current financial year. The scheme provides Rs 15,000 annual assistance to school-going students, similar to the previous YSRCP government’s Amma Vodi.
The amount will be credited to the bank account of the students’ mothers. The scheme is applicable to children studying from class 1 to 12 in government and private schools.
Another major super six scheme, Annadata Sukhibhava, will be implemented this year with an allocation of Rs 6,300 crore. Under this scheme, every farmer will receive Rs 20,000 annually.
Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav also announced that the government has decided to provide free electricity to all government schools, to reduce financial burden on local bodies and create a stress-free environment for teachers and students.
He announced an allocation of Rs 31,805 crore for school education, and Rs 2,506 crore for higher education. Of this, Rs 3,486 crore has been set aside for Mana Badi Mana Bhavishyathu (school infrastructure improvement), the Dokka Seethamma mid-day meal scheme, residential schools, and free electricity supply to schools.
The health sector has received a total allocation of Rs 19,264 crore. Of this, Rs 111 crore has been set aside for establishing multi-specialty hospitals in tribal areas, while Rs 183 crore is allocated for improving hospital infrastructure.
Additionally, Rs 27,518 crore has been earmarked for the NTR Bharosa Pension Scheme. This scheme, which succeeded the YSR Pension Kanuka scheme, increased the monthly pension amount from Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 in July 2024. Beneficiaries include senior citizens, transgender persons, widows, single women, weavers, dappu artists, toddy tappers, cobblers, fisherfolk, and people living with HIV.
It also provides Rs 6,000 to people with partial disability, Rs 15,000 to those with total disability, and Rs 10,000 for people affected by chronic illnesses such as chronic kidney disease and thalassemia.
An amount of Rs 1000 crore has been allocated to the relaunched Aadarana scheme, which provides financial assistance to artisans to buy raw materials and tools or to set up small businesses.
Under Deepam 2.0 scheme, Rs 2,601 crore has been allocated. The Deepam scheme, another of the super six promises already in place, three LPG cylinders are provided free of cost per year to 90.1 lakh eligible beneficiaries, the Finance Minister said.
An amount of Rs 1,163 crore has been allocated for the Bala Sanjeevani and Bala Sanjeevani Plus projects, to provide nutritious food to pregnant women and children under six years of age through anganwadis.
An amount of Rs 450 crore has been earmarked to provide financial assistance to fishermen, and free power to weavers and barbers. For pre- and post-matric scholarships for Backward Classess, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Rs 3,377 crore has been set aside.
A budget of Rs 400 crore has been allocated for providing free power to SC and ST households.
The government has allocated Rs 20,281 crore for SC welfare, Rs. 8,159 crore for ST welfare, Rs 47,456 crore for BC welfare, and Rs 5,434 crore for minority welfare.