Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has set ambitious goals for the state, aiming to establish a self-reliant economy by 2027 and achieve prosperity by 2032. During a media briefing following the assembly's Budget Session, Sukhu highlighted that despite presenting a smaller budget than the previous year, the state is not facing a financial crisis. He emphasized the importance of curtailing unnecessary expenditures and correcting systemic issues to strengthen the economy in the long run. However, he noted that financial constraints, such as reduced revenue deficit grants and Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation, have limited the state's fiscal space. Sukhu expressed confidence that ongoing reforms would lead to economic transformation. The assembly session was marked by high productivity, with Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania reporting 16 sittings and a productivity rate of 103%. In contrast, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur criticized the budget, claiming it reflects confusion and fiscal distress, and pointed out that the state's borrowing rate has surged to 16%, the highest in its history.