West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra tabled the budget for 2012-13

The West Bengal government on 23 March 2012 presented a higher plan outlay of 23371.44 crore in the budget for 2012-13. State Finance Minister Amit Mitra tabled the budget in the assembly The budget size was estimated at 328468 crore rupees. The plan outlay for 2012-13 is 11.56% higher than that of the last year.

Highlights of West Bengal Budget 2012-13 are mentioned below:

•    The state tax revenue is estimated at 31222 crore rupees during 2012-13.
•    Total deficit in the budget estimated at 9 crore rupees.
•    The budget also proposed to reintroduce entry tax on goods into the state for creating a Compensatory Entry Tax Fund.
•    The state's budgeted tax revenue receipts is 25.2% higher than the revised estimates of 2011-12 at 24934 crore rupees.
•    The fiscal deficit as a proportion of GSDP is projected at 3.5% both in 2011-12 and 2012-13.
•    The budgetary allocation to the health sector is increased from 871 crore rupees to 1049 crore rupees
•    The agriculture sector is allocated 315 crore rupees
•    800 crore rupees earmarked for drinking water
•    570 crore rupees allocated for minorities welfare
•    School education received a total outlay of 2713 crore rupees.
•    Allocation towards power (including non-conventional sources) and road sectors are hiked to 1010 crore rupees and 1175.42 crore rupees, respectively, in the budget.
•    Outlay for industry and IT sector are pegged at 500 crore rupees and 102.75 crore rupees respectively.