Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal announced that the Assured Pension Scheme will be implemented for state government employees, replacing the existing NPS. However, employees who wish to continue under the NPS will be given the option to do so. The announcement was made while presenting the State Budget for the next financial year.

 

The budget also featured a series of popular measures, including a wage hike for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, as well as increases in various social security pensions. This is the last budget presented by the government ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

 

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan said the budget was merely a declaration aimed at the upcoming Assembly elections. Former BJP state president K. Surendran criticised the budget as unrealistic, stating that Kerala is facing a severe financial crisis.