LUCKNOW, Jan. 31 -- About a year before the 2027 state assembly elections, Uttar Pradesh hopes for an increased share in the overall Central tax devolution and a rise in grants focusing on infrastructure, agriculture and industrial growth when Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the 2026-27 budget on February 1.

"A major increase could come from UP's share in central taxes, centrally sponsored schemes and finance commission recommendations," said a senior official in the state's department of finance.

These could be in addition to the various project-based demands that Uttar Pradesh finance minister Suresh Khanna had placed during a pre-budget meeting in New Delhi recently.

A requirement of Rs.32,075 crore for Metro rail...