Chhattisgarh Finance Minister OP Choudhary Presents Historic Handwritten Budget Reflecting Commitment and Transparency

A Rare Gesture of Dedication Amid AI Dominance​

In an era where artificial intelligence even drafts court judgments, Chhattisgarh’s Finance Minister OP Choudhary set an exceptional example of personal dedication by presenting a meticulously handwritten 100-page budget document in Hindi. His unique approach highlighted a strong personal connection and hands-on commitment to crafting the state's financial roadmap.

Sleepless Nights to Craft the Budget by Hand​

Former IAS officer Choudhary, who transitioned to politics as he saw it as a platform for greater public service, literally spent sleepless nights preparing the budget. Speaking candidly about his experience, Choudhary shared, "I literally didn't sleep for four nights prior to the Budget presentation. I hardly slept for 1-1.5 hours each night. And this is when I wrote the Budget."

Personal Attachment Reflected in Every Page​

Emphasizing his emotional connection to the task, Choudhary explained his decision: "I was writing my own speech and realized that a handwritten document expresses my feelings, emotions, vision, commitment, and attachment much better. Thus, I decided to write it in my own handwriting." The handwritten budget, he noted, symbolizes authenticity and transparency in governance.

Historic First in Chhattisgarh Assembly​

Choudhary's effort marks possibly the first time a finance minister has personally handwritten and presented an entire annual budget in a state assembly. Traditionally, budget documents are typed by a team of government officials, making this gesture even more notable as a testament to his personal involvement in the state's financial planning.

Budget Highlights and Vision for the State​

The Rs 1,65,100 crore budget aims to propel Chhattisgarh towards rapid economic advancement, emphasizing infrastructure development, good governance, technological enhancement, and industrial growth. Specifically, it addresses developmental needs of regions affected by Leftwing extremism, notably Bastar.

While the previous year's budget theme was "GYAN" (Gareeb, Yuva, Annadata & Nari), the latest budget expands on that progress under the new theme, "GYAN ke liye GATI." Explaining the acronym, Choudhary stated:

• G for Good governance
• A for Accelerating infrastructure
• T for Technology advancement
• I for Industrial growth

"The previous budget laid the foundation for inclusive development. This year’s budget is the next step in our journey," Choudhary emphasized.

From Bureaucrat to Dedicated Politician​

A 2005-batch IAS officer, OP Choudhary resigned from the esteemed position of Raipur Collector in 2018 to join politics, driven by the belief that political leadership provides greater opportunities to positively impact society.


Recalling his decision, Choudhary shared, "In my bureaucratic life spanning 13 years, I worked with full dedication, reaching the peak as Raipur Collector. However, a thought struck me: India offers immense opportunities for growth and service, and politics is an even bigger platform to serve the people."


Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he decided to enter politics, driven by the belief that "good people must join politics to ensure good governance."


Choudhary initially lost the 2018 election but secured a win from Raigarh constituency in 2023, marking a significant milestone in his political career.