Himachal Faces Rs 40,000 Crore Loss as Union Budget Omits RGD Grant

• Himachal Pradesh faces a Rs 40,000 crore loss due to the Union Budget 2026 not including the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG).
• The 16th Finance Commission did not recommend RDG for small states, including Himachal, leading to a difficult financial situation.
• Under the 15th Finance Commission, Himachal received Rs 35-40 thousand crore in RDG, which is now abolished.
• The budget announced Mountain Trails for Himachal, benefiting trekking and adventure tourism.
• BJP leaders praised the budget as far-sighted, while Congress criticized the lack of specific announcements for Haryana.

Why It Matters: Himachal Pradesh suffers a significant Rs 40,000 crore financial setback due to the omission of the RGD Grant in the Union Budget.