PM Modi’s foreign visits cost ₹462 crores in 2021-25

U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands as they attend a joint press conference at the White House on February 13, 2025. | Photo Credit: KEVIN LAMARQUE Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits between 2021 and 2025 incurred a total expenditure of ₹462.58 crores, according to government data. Spanning 43 … Read more

Has the 16th Finance Commission sidelined the States and prioritised the Centre’s needs?

The 16th Finance Commission (FC)’s vertical devolution recommendations prioritise the needs of the Centre over the realities of States. By merely acknowledging, rather than heeding, States’ fiscal pressures, the FC has taken a distinctly conservative stance. To grasp the underlying tensions, we must first look deeper into the structural issues. The 16th FC has maintained … Read more

Over Rs 8,000 crore collected for not maintaining minimum balance in PSBs 

Bank of Baroda accounted for 16% of all such charges collected for non-maintenance of minimum balance between FY23 to FY25 | Photo Credit: ANUSHREE FADNAVIS More than Rs 8,000 crore was collected as charges by 12 Public Sector Banks (PSBs) for non-maintenance of minimum balance in the last three financial years, Parliament data showed.  With over … Read more

Budget 2026: Allocation for electric mobility schemes record notable declines

India’s electric mobility (e-mobility) initiatives saw a significant dip in FY27 budget | Photo Credit: – In the Union Budget 2026, allocations for India’s electric mobility (e-mobility) initiatives saw a significant dip, marking a departure from the recent years. Collective allocation for such schemes declined by over 3,700 crores in the 2025-26 Revised Estimates (RE) … Read more

Budget 2026: The 14 States mentioned by Finance Minister and a breakdown of related projects

The FM mentioned in her Budget speech that Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala will develop Turtle Trails to protect and promote nesting sites. | Photo Credit: Asit Kumar In her Union Budget 2026 speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman explicitly named 14 States. However, when accounting for the States and Union Territories associated with the 27 specific … Read more