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:

Updated Jun 17, 2026, 10:35 AM IST

1/5

MAJOR CASH TRANSFER SCHEMES FOR WOMEN
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal allocated the most. Monthly benefits range from ₹833 to ₹2,500

2/5

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

3/5

BENGAL FACES THE HIGHEST INTEREST BURDEN
Among the major states with the highest interest burden, Uttar Pradesh has the highest own-tax revenue

4/5

STATE OF AFFAIRS
Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra lead with outlays of ₹2.88 lakh crore and ₹2.62 lakh crore, respectively

5/5

INFRA-FOCUSED
Infrastructure-focused states continue to prioritise long-term asset creation through sustained public investment

THE POINT | The State of Welfare

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