Subsidies outgo in April-May at 39% of budget estimate

New Delhi: Major subsidies have touched 39 per cent of the budget estimate (BE) for 2019-20 at Rs 2,96,684 crore in April-May vis-a-vis 34 per cent of the BE in the same period previous fiscal.

Total subsidies up to May 2019 was Rs 1,15,059.00 crore of the BE of Rs 2,96,684 crore while the same was Rs 88,689.12 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

According to the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) figures, food subsidy has touched Rs 77,388.07 crore as on May 2019, which is 42 per cent of the BE, as against Rs 73,636.24 crore or 43 per cent of BE recorded in the year ago period.

Urea subsidy for April-May 2019 amounted to Rs 15,708.45 crore, which is 31 per cent of the BE of Rs 50,154 crore as against 10 per cent of BE or Rs 4,565.17 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Nutrient-based fertilisers subsidy in April-May 2019 touched Rs 7,740.48 crore, which is 31 per cent of the BE of Rs 24,832 crore, as against Rs 6,052 crore or 24 per cent of BE recorded in the year ago period.