Chapter Overview

Chhattisgarh calls itself the “rice bowl” (धान का कटोरा) of central India, yet almost half of its economy comes from industry: coal, iron ore, steel, cement and power. This chapter takes you from that big picture (how large the economy is and what drives it) to the money the state government raises and spends each year (the budget), the flagship schemes that budget pays for, and the Public Distribution System (सार्वजनिक वितरण प्रणाली), which the rest of India studied as a model.

This is a dated chapter. GSDP, budget size and scheme benefits change every year. Every figure here carries its year: learn the figure and the year, and before the exam check the latest Economic Survey and budget.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this chapter, you’ll be able to:

Quote the state’s GSDP, growth rate, per capita income and sector shares from the Economic Survey 2025-26, and explain why industry dominates
Explain how the state budget is made and passed (Articles 202–207), and recall the size and theme of the last three budgets (GYAN, GATI, SANKALP)
Match each current flagship scheme (Mahtari Vandan, Krishak Unnati, Bhumiheen Krishi Majdoor, Niyad Nellanar and others) with its beneficiary and benefit
Explain the PDS reforms of 2004, the Chhattisgarh Food Security Act, 2012 and how they shaped the national food law
Write balanced Mains answers on welfare spending, fiscal health and food security

Prerequisites

Public Finance: budget, deficits and fiscal federalism in general
Basic Concepts of the Economy: GDP, GVA, per capita income, sectors
State Government: the Governor and the Vidhan Sabha whose approval the budget needs
Agriculture and Irrigation in Chhattisgarh: the paddy economy behind procurement and PDS

Learning Path

Follow these topics in order:

graph TD
    A["1. State economy at a glance: GSDP, sectors, per capita income"] --> B["2. State budget basics: process, themes, deficits"]
    B --> C["3. Flagship welfare schemes: women, farmers, labour, Bastar"]
    C --> D["4. Public Distribution System: 2004 reforms, 2012 Act, free rice"]
    D --> E["Quick Revision"]

Topics in This Chapter

#	Topic	What it covers	Read time
1	State Economy at a Glance	GSDP 2025-26, growth, per capita income, sector shares, growth engines, Vision @2047	12 min
2	State Budget Basics	Constitutional process (Arts. 202–207), budget themes GYAN-GATI-SANKALP, deficits, sources of revenue	14 min
3	Flagship Welfare Schemes	Mahtari Vandan, Krishak Unnati, landless labourers, tendu patta and Charan Paduka, Niyad Nellanar, pilgrimage schemes, earlier schemes	15 min
4	Public Distribution System	2004 PDS Control Order, computerisation, Chhattisgarh Food Security Act 2012, NFSA, free rice 2024–2028, procurement link	13 min
—	Quick Revision	Every number, date and scheme of this chapter on one page	5 min

Where It Is Asked

Exam Focus

Prelims P-I (Chhattisgarh part): scheme to beneficiary matching, benefit amounts (₹1,000 a month, ₹3,100 per quintal, ₹10,000 a year, ₹5,500 per standard bag), budget theme acronyms, the year of the Food Security Act, and sector shares from the Economic Survey. Expect statement-based questions that swap amounts or years.
Mains P-V GS-III: the structure of the state economy, its dependence on minerals, fiscal position and budget priorities, and paddy procurement.
Mains P-VII GS-V: welfare schemes for women, farmers, labourers and tribal areas, food security and the PDS model, and evaluation of cash transfers.
Interview: “Is Chhattisgarh’s paddy bonus sustainable?” or “What made the Chhattisgarh PDS a model?” are natural questions for a candidate from the state.

Quick Reference

Fact	Detail
GSDP 2025-26 (advance estimate, current prices)	About ₹6.31 lakh crore, nominal growth 11.57% (Economic Survey 2025-26)
Real GSDP growth 2025-26	8.11% (constant 2011-12 prices)
Per capita income 2025-26	₹1,79,244 (up 10.07%)
Sector shares 2025-26 (current prices)	Agriculture 20.64%, Industry 46.59%, Services 32.77%
Finance Minister (as of 2026)	O. P. Choudhary
Budget 2024-25 / 2025-26 / 2026-27	₹1,47,446 cr (GYAN) / about ₹1.65 lakh cr (GATI) / about ₹1.72 lakh cr (SANKALP)
Fiscal deficit target 2026-27	4.1% of GSDP (PRS analysis of the budget)
Mahtari Vandan Yojana	₹1,000 a month to married women aged 21+; first instalment 10 March 2024
Paddy procurement	₹3,100 per quintal, up to 21 quintals per acre; difference over MSP paid through Krishak Unnati Yojana
Landless labourers	₹10,000 a year, Deendayal Upadhyay Bhumiheen Krishi Majdoor Kalyan Yojana (launched 20 January 2025)
PDS milestones	PDS Control Order 2004; Chhattisgarh Food Security Act, 2012 (21 December 2012), first state food security law
Free rice	67.92 lakh ration card holders, January 2024 to December 2028

Start Learning

Ready to begin? Start with the first topic:

→ State Economy at a Glance