Highlights State’s leadership in revenue generation, infrastructure development, IT growth, irrigation, women’s entrepreneurship, proving the strong governance under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao
Hyderabad: The Economic Survey 2024-25 has reaffirmed Telangana‘s exceptional economic and developmental progress under the BRS regime, debunking allegations by the ruling Congress that the previous government had left the State in financial shambles.
The report highlights Telangana’s leadership in revenue generation, infrastructure development, IT growth, irrigation and women’s entrepreneurship, proving the strong governance under former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.
Telangana has emerged as the top-performing State in revenue generation among 15 major Indian States. The State Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) accounts for 88 per cent of Telangana’s total revenue, the highest in India. This means Telangana was largely self-reliant and did not depend heavily on Central funds, outpacing Karnataka and Haryana (86 per cent each). A strong Own Revenue Receipts (ORR) ratio helped Telangana maintain a low revenue deficit, proving its financial resilience despite the economic challenges being cited by the Congress government now.
The Economic Survey also confirmed that Telangana achieved 100 per cent rural drinking water coverage under Mission Bhagiratha, a landmark initiative by the Chandrashekhar Rao government. This revelation exposes the Congress government’s false claims about gaps in water supply. Only seven other States managed to complete this feat, but long after Telangana achieved it. Mission Bhagiratha provided safe drinking water to every household across the State, a feat unmatched by most States in India.
Telangana also continued to dominate India’s IT and digital services sector, standing alongside Karnataka as a leading technology and innovation hub. The survey acknowledges Telangana’s service-driven economy, which boasts a high per capita Gross State Value Added (GSVA) in the IT sector. With Hyderabad emerging as India’s fastest growing tech city, Telangana has attracted global investments and created thousands of high-paying jobs.
Despite Congress’ repeated attacks on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), the Economic Survey proved that Telangana’s irrigation projects are among the most successful in India. The State ranks among the top four in the country with 84 per cent irrigation coverage, thanks to flagship projects such as the KLIS, Sitarama project, Mission Kakatiya and others. Between FY16 and FY21, irrigation coverage in India increased from 49.3 per cent to 55 per cent, and Telangana led the way, reaching 84 per cent coverage, after Punjab (98 per cent) and Haryana (94 per cent).
The survey also lauds WE Hub, Telangana’s pioneering women entrepreneur incubator, as a national role model. Telangana is the only State in India with a government-led initiative that provides financial, technical and policy support to women entrepreneurs. The key achievements of WE Hub include Rs 177 crore raised in funding, 6,376 startups and SMEs incubated, 7,828 women entrepreneurs supported, 87 startup programmes launched, and 75 per cent of startups surviving beyond two years. This pro-business ecosystem proves Telangana’s commitment to empowering women and fostering entrepreneurship, setting a benchmark for the rest of India.
The survey also highlights Telangana as the best State in India for labour flexibility, allowing higher overtime hours and better wages for workers. India’s national limit is 75 overtime hours per quarter, with an overtime wage rate at 200 per cent of regular wage and Rs 10,556 of overtime earnings per quarter. Telangana has been adjudged the best-performing State, with 156 overtime hours per quarter and overtime wages per quarter pegged at Rs 21,957, which is the highest in India. This flexibility enables Telangana’s industries to stay globally competitive, attracting manufacturers and investors to the State.
The Economic Survey cements Telangana’s position as one of India’s most developed and financially stable States, crediting its achievements to the progressive policies of the BRS government. The data clearly contradicts Congress’ allegations and proves that Telangana’s robust economic model is driven by self-sufficiency, industrial strength and social welfare.
