Gujarat Assembly Budget Session to begin on February 16

The Budget Session of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly will commence on February 16 and continue till March 25, Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary stated. The session will mark the 8th sitting of the 15th Gujarat Assembly and is scheduled to span 23 working days.The session will open with an address by Governor Acharya Devvrat, following which Finance Minister Kanu Desai will present the state Budget for 2026–27 on February 17.
Budget Presentation and Financial Statements
Along with the annual budget, the state government will also table supplementary expenditure statements for multiple financial years, including 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19, and 2025–26, according to the Speaker.As per the official schedule, the Assembly will hold 26 sittings during the session. 
New Bills and Legislative Agenda
The state government is preparing to introduce around seven new bills during the session. Sources indicate that key legislative amendments may be taken up, with a strong possibility of bills related to the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) being placed before the House.In addition, the session is expected to include a review of ongoing and pending Centre–State projects, particularly those linked with infrastructure and development programmes.
Budget Size and Focus Areas
According to estimates, the 2026–27 budget may be the largest ever presented by Gujarat, with the proposed outlay pegged at around ₹3.90 lakh crore, reflecting a potential 15% increase over the previous year.Preparations by the Finance Department have gathered pace, with discussions in a recent Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister focusing on current expenditure trends and upcoming priorities. Education, health, and infrastructure are expected to receive greater attention in the upcoming budget.
Ahead of the session, the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Assembly has been reconstituted. A five-member ministerial group has also been formed to finalise the schedule for starred questions, which will be taken up at the start of each sitting.To streamline proceedings, MLAs have been provided the option to submit questions both online and offline. A meeting of the BAC, chaired by the Speaker, will be held before the session begins to finalise the legislative agenda and House conduct.With key financial decisions, new legislation, and policy discussions lined up, the upcoming Budget Session is expected to be closely tracked across the state.

(State Correspondent)