THE POINT | THE STATE OF WELFARE
Social sector spending by states has risen steadily over the past decade, led mainly by bigger states with high own-tax revenues. Many state governments are now increasingly relying on cash transfer, especially through women-focused schemes. While welfare coverage has improved, limited revenues are reducing the funds available for development and infrastructure projects. Here is what the data shows:
- Jun 16, 2026,
- Updated Jun 16, 2026 7:07 PM IST
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MAJOR CASH TRANSFER SCHEMES FOR WOMEN Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal allocated the most. Monthly benefits range from ₹833 to ₹2,500
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STEADY GROWTH Social sector spending and capital outlay by states have risen steadily, reflecting higher priority for health, education, infra, and welfare-focused programmes across states
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BENGAL FACES THE HIGHEST INTEREST BURDEN Among the major states with the highest interest burden, Uttar Pradesh has the highest own-tax revenue
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STATE OF AFFAIRS Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra lead with outlays of ₹2.88 lakh crore and ₹2.62 lakh crore, respectively
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INFRA-FOCUSED Infrastructure-focused states continue to prioritise long-term asset creation through sustained public investment