Local elections are taking place in Gujarat. On the one hand, the state finance department is preparing the general budget for the year 2021-22 while the state election commission is preparing to issue the declaration, although the budget session is likely to be delayed if the date of local elections falls in February.
“We have almost completed the departmental budget preparation,” finance department sources said. The budget session usually begins between February 18 and 24, but the start of the budget session could be a little late if the state election commission declares local elections in February.
Regarding the peculiarity of the New Year’s budget, he said that this time the department’s budget has been cut by up to 20 per cent due to the transition to corona but the health budget has been increased. This time the situation arising out of the corona infection as well as the new provision on corona vaccine is covered in the budget.
Finance department sources said the budget session could go to March if local elections are held in February but the government has not been consulted yet. We are instructed to continue the process of budgeting and department allocation. That means we are preparing a full budget. When the budget session will be held will be discussed in the cabinet meeting and then a proposal will be sent to the governor for a call.