INTERVIEW WITH KERALA FINANCE MINISTER

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CBS LINE

Volume 3(10)

CBS Students Hold Exclusive Interview with Kerala’s Finance Minister

At the Vision 2031 conference organized by the Department of Finance, Government of Kerala, students from the Centre for Budget Studies (CBS) had the opportunity to engage directly with Hon. Finance Minister Shri K.N. Balagopal in a special interview granted upon the request of the CBS delegation. The discussion focused on Kerala’s fiscal priorities and its long-term development vision.



                                 CBS Students with Hon. Finance Minister Shri K.N. Balagopal

 

The CBS students asked:

“Given that the state has reached an advanced welfare stage, should the government focus more on revenue generation or on restructuring expenditure to ensure long-term fiscal stability?”

In his response, Hon. Finance Minister Shri K.N. Balagopal remarked

“In the current context, the government should definitely focus on revenue generation. Every government must strengthen its revenue base rather than cutting essential welfare expenditure, especially when the state’s developmental commitments remain high.”

“Reducing expenditure due to low revenue would only slow down progress and risk economic stagnation.”

“Instead, the emphasis should be on creating more employment opportunities, boosting productive sectors, and encouraging economic activity that leads to sustainable revenue growth. This approach ensures fiscal stability without compromising the welfare objectives that define Kerala’s development model.”

The discussion provided valuable insights into the state’s fiscal direction and the government’s approach to balancing welfare commitments with economic sustainability. It underscored the importance of strengthening Kerala’s revenue base while upholding its inclusive development model — a hallmark of the state’s progressive policy framework.


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