Overview
- Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the second supplementary demands for FY26 seeking a net cash outgo of about Rs 2.01 lakh crore.
- Of the Rs 2.81 lakh crore gross request, Rs 80,145.71 crore is expected to be covered by savings, enhanced receipts and recoveries.
- The plan sets aside Rs 1 lakh crore via inter-account transfer for an Economic Stabilization Fund and Rs 1,703.44 crore for the Gold Reserve Fund.
- Subsidy additions include Rs 19,230 crore for fertilisers and Rs 23,641 crore for PMGKAY food support, with Rs 30,116.80 crore proposed for transfers to states.
- ICRA noted urea prices climbed to about $597 per tonne by March 4 following West Asia disruptions and warned extended stress could pressure the subsidy bill.