Appropriation Bill authorizes massive funding for government services and constitutional bodies

Who it concerns: The Bill applies to the Government of India, specifically authorizing expenditures for the ministries, departments, and constitutional bodies listed in the Schedule (e.g., Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Railways, Supreme Court of India).

What the bill does

• Authorizes payment of sums not exceeding Rs. 15,47,795.908 crore (approx. 154.78 lakh crore) from the Consolidated Fund of India.
• Specifies that these funds are for defraying charges during the financial year 2025-26.
• Includes a Schedule listing specific amounts for 'Voted' services (ministries/departments) and 'Charged' services (such as Interest Payments, Repayment of Debt, Pensions, and salaries of the President/Parliament).
• Clarifies that references to Ministries or Departments in the Schedule are to be construed as the appropriate bodies as constituted from time to time, based on the structure existing immediately before 6th September, 2021.

Also in the document

• The total amount authorized is Rs. 15,47,795.908 crore.
• The Bill includes 'Charged' expenditures that do not require annual voting by Parliament, such as Interest Payments (Rs. 13,52,307.47 crore) and Repayment of Debt (Rs. 90,38,648.16 crore).
• It covers expenditures for constitutional bodies like the Supreme Court of India, Union Public Service Commission, and the President's staff.