Hyderabad: Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka on Saturday urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to extend greater financial assistance for key development projects in the state. He made the appeal during the pre-Budget meeting held at Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi.
Speaking at the session, Bhatti said close Centre-State coordination is essential for national progress. He welcomed the Centre’s Viksit Bharat vision and its target of building a $30 trillion economy by 2047.
Bhatti outlines Telangana’s economic vision, seeks fiscal reforms
The Deputy CM said Telangana contributes 5.1 per cent to India’s GDP. Under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s leadership, the state has launched the Telangana Rising 2047 initiative. It aims to grow from a $200 billion economy to $3 trillion and double its national GDP share to 10 per cent.
To achieve this, Bhatti called for increasing infrastructure investment from 37 to 50 per cent of GSDP. He also sought to raise the fiscal deficit limit for states to 4 per cent and proposed converting 50-year interest-free loans into grants. He asked that these allocations be doubled.
He further requested exemptions for education and health sector funding from FRBM limits. Citing the state’s initiatives, Bhatti highlighted over 1,000 caste-based residential schools. Additionally, he mentioned the new Young India Integrated Residential Schools in all 119 constituencies, aimed at inclusive education.
In the health sector, he said Telangana is building super-specialty hospitals and new medical colleges to expand access to advanced care. He noted that the Centre spends more than 20 per cent of its budget on State and Concurrent List subjects. To promote financial autonomy, he recommended reducing this by 25 per cent. Moreover, he suggested transferring ₹2.21 lakh crore directly to the states.
Attended the Pre-Budget Consultation meeting with States and UTs for the Union Budget 2026–27, chaired by Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. @nsitharaman in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/9liEtFMLEW
— Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu (@Bhatti_Mallu) January 10, 2026