Rajya Sabha Approves ₹41,455 Crore Supplementary Demands For Grants In FY26
Parliament approves the first batch of FY26 supplementary grants worth ₹41,455 crore after Rajya Sabha nod.
The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday approved the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the financial year 2025-26, authorising a net additional expenditure of Rs 41,455.39 crore. The Upper House passed the demands via voice vote and returned them to the Lok Sabha, which had cleared the proposal the previous day. This approval enables the Central Government to meet unforeseen expenditures in the current fiscal year, with a significant portion directed towards key subsidies.
The supplementary demands involve a gross additional expenditure of Rs 1.32 lakh crore, offset by Rs 90,812 crore in savings from various ministries and departments, resulting in the net cash outgo of Rs 41,455.39 crore. A major allocation includes Rs 18,525 crore for fertiliser and related subsidies, driven by heightened demand following a favourable monsoon season that boosted agricultural activity. Additionally, approximately Rs 9,500 crore has been sought by the Petroleum Ministry to compensate oil marketing companies for under-recoveries on subsidized fuels.
During a brief debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary addressed concerns raised by some members about potential urea shortages, assuring that adequate stocks are available nationwide. He emphasised the government's commitment to fiscal consolidation while responding to evolving needs. Other allocations include Rs 1,304 crore for the Department of Higher Education and Rs 225 crore for the Commerce Ministry.
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Supplementary Demands for Grants are a standard parliamentary mechanism in India, allowing the government to seek approval for additional spending not anticipated in the annual Union Budget. This first batch reflects adjustments for priorities such as agricultural support amid increased farmer requirements for inputs like urea, ensuring continuity in essential schemes without disrupting overall fiscal discipline. The approval completes the parliamentary process for these demands during the ongoing Winter Session.
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