Chandigarh, January 21 — Haryana’s Minister for Soldiers and Paramilitary Welfare, Rao Narbir Singh, on Tuesday said that the state budget for 2026–27 will be prepared through extensive public participation, with meaningful and practical suggestions received during pre-budget consultation meetings expected to be incorporated, as was done last year.
He said Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is holding pre-budget consultations with various stakeholders to ensure that the upcoming budget reflects public aspirations and grassroots inputs. Expressing confidence, the minister said the process would result in a people-centric and inclusive budget.
Rao Narbir Singh recalled that in the previous year, the Chief Minister had announced the establishment of 10 new Integrated Manufacturing Townships (IMTs) to accelerate industrial development in the state. He added that this year, special provisions are likely to be announced for Agniveers in the budget, keeping in view their future prospects, as the first batch recruited under the Agnipath scheme will complete its service tenure in July 2026.
The minister said the Haryana Cabinet has already approved the Haryana Agniveer Policy–2024 to secure the future of Agniveers. The policy will be implemented effectively from August 2026 and aims to provide employment opportunities to Agniveers in government services and other sectors.
Sharing recruitment figures, he said that during 2022–23, a national target of recruiting 26,649 Agniveers was set for the Army, Navy and Air Force, out of which 1,830 Agniveers were recruited from Haryana. Under the Agnipath scheme, 25 per cent of Agniveers will be absorbed into regular services based on the requirements of the armed forces, while the remaining 75 per cent — about 1,373 Agniveers from Haryana — will return after completing four years of service. These Agniveers will be accommodated under the Haryana Agniveer Policy–2024.
Rao Narbir Singh said that during the four-year service period, Agniveers will receive a Seva Nidhi package of around Rs 11.71 lakh, comprising their 30 per cent contribution and the matching contribution from the Central Government’s corpus fund. In addition, the Haryana government will provide special reservation for Agniveers in posts such as constable in Haryana Police, jail warden, forest guard and other positions. This reservation will be separate from the quota meant for ex-servicemen.
He further said that Agniveers interested in self-employment or entrepreneurship will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh for a period of three years.
The minister also highlighted that the Haryana government constituted a separate Soldiers and Paramilitary Welfare Department in 2016 for the welfare of ex-servicemen, paramilitary personnel and their dependents. Since October 2014, compassionate government jobs have been provided to the dependents of 418 martyrs, reflecting the state government’s commitment to the welfare of soldiers and their families.
