In the face of protests from opposition parties over the Adani issue, Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed its assent for the central government to spend an additional Rs 1.48 lakh crore during the current fiscal year 2022–23.
Pankaj Chaudhary, the Minister of State for Finance, had submitted the second round of supplementary demands for grants to the House on March 13 for a total of Rs 2,70,508.89 crore.
“However, the net cash outgo aggregate is estimated at only Rs 1,48,133.23 crore. The remaining expenditure will be matched by savings of the Ministries/Departments or by enhanced receipts/recoveries aggregates to Rs 1,22,374.37 crore,” said the statement on supplementary demands for grants.
Amounts totalling Rs 36,325 crore of the additional cash outlay would be used to pay for fertiliser subsidies. The increased subsidy outlay for phosphorus and potassium (P&K) and urea is included, totalling Rs 21,000 crore and Rs 15,325.36 crore, respectively.
Despite constant protests from the Opposition calling for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into the claims against the Adani Group of companies, the second round of supplementary demands, or “Appropriation Bill (No 2), 2023,” was passed without discussion.
According to the enacted bill, the government has been given permission to make additional transfers to the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) totalling Rs 25,000 crore.
A further outlay of Rs 33,718.49 crore would also be required for defence pensions, mostly to fulfil arrears owed under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
The estimated amount needed to make the additional transfer to the GST Compensation Fund for the benefit of the states and Union Territories is Rs 33,506 crore.
Also Read: Amruta Fadnavis Case: Bookie Anil Jaisinghani Arrested In Gujarat
