Major subsidies dip in Apr-Aug 2024, government accounts show
Big fall in fertiliser subsidies helps government keep overall subsidies in check this year
- Oct 1, 2024,
- Updated Oct 1, 2024 4:24 PM IST
The government has managed to spend less on subsidies this year compared to a year ago. Data from the Controller General of Accounts shows expenditure on major subsidies fell marginally on year in Apr-Aug. The government spent Rs 1.786 trillion in 2024 in comparison to Rs 1.807 trillion in the same period last year.
The expenditure accounted for 47% of the Budget estimate of Rs 3.812 trillion for 2024-25, compared to 48% in the same period of the previous financial year.
The dip is accounted for largely by a huge fall in fertiliser subsidies. The expenditure on fertiliser subsidy is down 37% on year at Rs 611.699 billion in Apr-Aug. The food subsidy bill was Rs 1.138 trillion, up 37.2% against Apr-Aug a year ago.
Petroleum subsidy grew almost fivefold from the same period a year ago, but the absolute number remained within the budgeted outlay of Rs 119.250 billion.
The following table details major subsidies in Apr-Aug (in billion rupees):
|
| Apr-Aug 2024-25 | Apr-Aug 2023-24 | Budget Estimates | Year-on-year % change |
| Food | 1137.907 | 829.220 | 2052.500 | 37.23 Advertisement |
| Fertiliser | 611.699 | 970.800 | 1639.998 | -36.99 |
| Petroleum | 36.641 | 7.367 | 119.250 | 397.37 |
| Total | 1,786.247 | 1,807.387 | 3,811.748 | -1.17 |
The government has managed to spend less on subsidies this year compared to a year ago. Data from the Controller General of Accounts shows expenditure on major subsidies fell marginally on year in Apr-Aug. The government spent Rs 1.786 trillion in 2024 in comparison to Rs 1.807 trillion in the same period last year.
The expenditure accounted for 47% of the Budget estimate of Rs 3.812 trillion for 2024-25, compared to 48% in the same period of the previous financial year.
The dip is accounted for largely by a huge fall in fertiliser subsidies. The expenditure on fertiliser subsidy is down 37% on year at Rs 611.699 billion in Apr-Aug. The food subsidy bill was Rs 1.138 trillion, up 37.2% against Apr-Aug a year ago.
Petroleum subsidy grew almost fivefold from the same period a year ago, but the absolute number remained within the budgeted outlay of Rs 119.250 billion.
The following table details major subsidies in Apr-Aug (in billion rupees):
|
| Apr-Aug 2024-25 | Apr-Aug 2023-24 | Budget Estimates | Year-on-year % change |
| Food | 1137.907 | 829.220 | 2052.500 | 37.23 Advertisement |
| Fertiliser | 611.699 | 970.800 | 1639.998 | -36.99 |
| Petroleum | 36.641 | 7.367 | 119.250 | 397.37 |
| Total | 1,786.247 | 1,807.387 | 3,811.748 | -1.17 |