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Data: Between 2005 & 2023, Jammu & Kashmir’s Tableau Was Part of Every Republic Day Parade except in 2021
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 3, 2023
Between 2005 and 2023, 285 state tableaux that took part in the Republic Day Parade on varied themes. Culture & Heritage was the most common theme with over 28% of the tableaux choosing this theme. Of the states, Jammu & Kashmir’s tableau was part of the parade in 18 of these 19 years except in 2021.
The Constitution was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on 26 November 1949 and came into force on 26 January 1950 with Dr. Rajendra Prasad unfurling the National Flag after a salute of 21 guns declaring India a Sovereign, Democratic and Republic state. Since then, every year, on 26 January, the nation celebrates Republic Day with great patriotic fervour. A series of events are organized in the national capital, New Delhi about which this story by Factly has explained in detail.
Among other events, a cultural parade that involves tableaus and cultural performances from various states is held from Raisina Hill (near the President’s residence- Rashtrapati Bhavan), along Rajpath (now known as Kartavya Path), past India Gate. These tableaus depict state festivals, art, historical locations, flora and fauna, development works, personalities, and culture among others. In this story, we look at the historical trends in state tableaux. Data for this story has been taken from Factly’s Dataful portal.
Ministry of Defence is primarily responsible for conducting national functions on Republic Day
The Ministry of Defence is primarily responsible for the conduct of national functions like the Republic Day Parade (RDP), the Beating Retreat Ceremony in coordination with various executing agencies. The Ministry starts the selection process for tableaux by writing letters to all the Chief Secretaries/Administrators of state governments & union territories, central government departments, and a few constitutional authorities to participate in the parade. Relevant guidelines like theme, dimensions, facilities provided, initiatives to be included, etc. are provided in the letter.
Long and complex process is involved in the selection of tableaux for cultural parade on Republic Day
The states/UTs, ministries and departments send in their proposals with sketches and write-ups. An expert committee constituted by the Ministry of Defence consisting of prominent persons in the field of art, culture, painting, sculpture, music, architecture, choreography, etc. evaluate the proposals and put forth their recommendations. Once the committee approves the proposals, participants come up with three-dimensional models of their proposals. These models are yet again examined by the committee for final selection. Visual appeal, impact, idea/theme, detailing, involvement of local artisans and music are some of the parameters that the committee looks out for.
Annually, an average of 15 tableaux are selected from states, proportionately based on geographic zone
The selection process is long and generally takes around 6 to 7 rounds of meetings among the committee members. Due to time constraints arising out of the overall duration of the parade, only a limited number of tableaux are shortlisted for participation in the parade. For instance, in 2022, only 12 out of 29 proposals from states/UTs were selected whereas, in 2021, 17 out of 27 proposals were shortlisted for the final parade.
Moreover, the selection of tableaux from States/UTs is made on a zonal basis. States/UTs are categorized into six zones, namely Northern Zone, Central Zone, Eastern Zone, Western Zone, Southern Zone, and Northeastern Zone. Usually, about 15 tableaux from States/UTs are selected for the Republic Day parade, based on the proportionate ratio of each zone.
On an average, there were 15 state tableaux in the parade between 2005 and 2023. Only 12 state tableaux were part of the parade in 2009 and 2022 while there were 18 in 2007.
Themes in state tableaux have been categorized into 7 broad areas
For analysing the themes in the state tableaux in Republic Day parades, we have categorized the themes chosen by the tableaux which were part of the final selected list into the following broad themes.
Culture and Heritage is the most popularly used theme in the tableaux from states
Of the 285 state tableaux that took part in the parade between 2005 and 2023, culture & heritage was the most common theme with over 28% of the tableaux falling in this category- Pattadakal of Karnataka, and Kotumsar Caves of Chhattisgarh are a few examples. Not far behind, tableaux falling under the theme of state specialty such as Navratri of Gujarat, West Bengal’s Durga Puja, etc. accounted for 25% of the total tableaux sent by states. Together, the two themes account for 53% of the state tableaux.
Under the category of Development Works, schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao from Haryana and Meghalaya’s Bamboo Drip Irrigation were also showcased over the years. This category accounted for 11%. Festivals accounted for another 15%.
Tableaux based on personalities like Mahatma Gandhi (from various states/UTs), Bhagat Singh from Punjab, and SD Burman from Tripura accounted for 8% and environment theme-based tableaux like Valley of Flowers of Uttarakhand, Meghalaya’s Butterflies accounted for 7%. Some tableaux based on History include Champaran Satyagraha from Bihar, 1857’s revolt from UP & Haryana, etc. Such tableaux constituted 6% of the total number between 2005 & 2023.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Tableau has been part of every Republic Day Parade except in 2021
Except in 2021, Jammu & Kashmir is the only state whose Tableau has been part of every Republic Day parade since 2005.  Ladakh’s tableau was selected in 2021. Ladakh was part of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state. Of the 20 appearances of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, 6 were based on development work, 6 on state specialty, and 5 on culture & heritage.
Karnataka has had its tableaux appear 17 times between 2005 & 2023, except in 2007 and 2009. Of these 17occasions, 7 tableaux were based on culture & heritage and 5 on state specialty. Assam has showcased 15 tableaux while Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra showcased 14 times each.
On the other hand, Nagaland has had only one appearance in the 19 years considered. Telangana appeared twice since its formation in 2014. UTs of Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands showcased their tableaux only on two instances.
Best tableaux are announced a few days after the parade
A few days after the parade, awards are announced to the top 3 tableaux based on a panel’s judgement and based on an online poll. Three panels of judges were appointed for assessing the performance of tableaux from various States/UTs and Ministries/Departments, as well as other events. Based on the assessment of the panels, the Best three Tableaux from States/UTs for 2023 were Uttarakhand (Manaskhand), Maharashtra (Sade Tin Shaktipithe & Nari Shakti) and Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya Deepotsav) in that order.
However, based on the online poll for the popular choice that was conducted between 25 to 28 January 2023 on the MyGov web page, the best three tableaux in order were Gujarat (Clean-Green energy efficient Gujarat), Uttar Pradesh (Ayodhya Deepotsava), and Maharashtra (Sade tin Shaktipithe and Nari Shakti).
Featured Image: Republic Day Parade

created: February 3, 2023


text:
Data: Between 2005 & 2024, Jammu & Kashmir’s Tableau Was Part of Every Republic Day Parade except in 2021 & 2024
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 5, 2024
Between 2005 and 2024, a total of 301 state tableaux took part in the Republic Day Parade on varied themes. Culture & Heritage was the most common theme with over 28% of the tableaux choosing this theme. Of the states, Jammu & Kashmir’s tableau was part of the parade in 18 of these 20 years except in 2021 & 2024.
On 26 January 2024, India celebrated the 75 Republic Day. On this day, a series of events are organized by the Central Government in the national capital. These include flag hoisting, distribution of bravery awards, and the Republic Day Parade (RDP). Civilian awards such as Bharat Ratna, and Padma Awards are announced on the eve of the Republic Day. Factly published a detailed data story on Civilian Awards, which can be read here. An explainer of the events that take place on that day is also available.
The RDP is an integral part of the annual Republic Day celebrations. It starts with a Military parade that includes impressive displays of India’s military might, showcasing the strength, discipline, and capabilities of the armed forces. The military parade is followed by a cultural parade which includes tableaux showcasing the cultural diversity, historical significance, and achievements of different states & Union Territories of India, and the different union ministries.
Tableaux are selected based on parameters like visual appeal, impact, theme, detailing, and local artisan involvement
The tableaux usually comprise various components, including a thematic concept, structural design with replicas and displays of landmarks, artistic representations, performers in traditional costumes, floral decorations, information boards, technology integration, moving parts, and lighting effects. From inviting states and Union Territories to participate to providing theme guidelines, and overseeing the submission and selection of proposals, the Ministry of Defence plays a pivotal role in the cultural parade. There is a long and complex process involved in the selection of tableaux. An expert committee from the Ministry of Defence evaluates proposals based on parameters like visual appeal, impact, theme, detailing, and local artisan involvement. Tableaux are also sent by Ministries and Central Government Departments.
In this story, we look at the historical trends in state tableaux that were part of the RDP in the last two decades from 2005 to 2024. Data for the same has been taken from Dataful. We also look at the trends in tableaux sent by ministries in the last decade from 2015 to 2024.
An average of 15 state tableaux and 10 ministry tableaux are showcased every year
On average, 15 tableaux are part of the RDP every year from states, proportionately based on geographic zone. Only 12 state tableaux were part of the parade in 2009 and 2022 while there were 18 in 2007. The years 2021 and 2023 saw 17 state tableaux in the parade.
From Ministries/Departments, an average of 10 tableaux are part of the parade every year. While 11 were showcased in 2021, only 6 were showcased in 2023 and 9 in 2024.
Jammu and Kashmir’s tableaux were showcased 18 times in the last 20 years while Nagaland’s tableau appeared only once
In the last two decades, Jammu and Kashmir’s Tableau has been part of every Republic Day Parade except in 2021 and 2024. However, Ladakh’s tableau was showcased in both these years. Karnataka’s tableau was part of all parades except in 2007, 2009, and 2024. Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra’s tableaux appeared 15 times each. Apart from these states, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Goa, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu’s tableaux appeared at least 10 times.
Meanwhile, Nagaland’s tableaux appeared only once (2012) between 2005 & 2024. Telangana’s appeared thrice since its formation in 2014. UTs of Lakshadweep, Chandigarh, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands showcased their tableaux only on two instances.
Central Public Works Department’s tableaux appeared 9 times in the last 10 years
On the other hand, among Ministries and Departments, the tableau of the Central Public Works Department appeared 9 times in ten years between 2015 and 2024. The Ministry of Culture’s tableau appeared four times. Among the remaining 48 Ministries/Departments, the tableaux of 15 Ministries/Departments appeared twice. These include that of the Election Commission of India, ICAR, Central Reserve Police Force, and the Ministries of AYUSH, Finance, External Affairs, Home Affairs, and Tribal Affairs, among others. 35 Ministries & Departments including All India Radio, Indian Railways, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Power, Agriculture, Textiles, Women and Child Development, and National Disaster Response Force appeared once in the last decade.
Themes in state tableaux have been categorized into 7 broad areas for analysis
For analysing the themes in the state tableaux in Republic Day parades, we have categorized the themes chosen by the tableaux which were part of the final selected list into the following broad themes.
Majority of the state tableaux were culture and heritage related
A total of 301 tableaux of states were showcased in the last twenty years between 2005 & 2024. Of these, about 28% were culture and heritage-related. State specialties were depicted in about 25% of the tableaux. Festivals constituted 14% and Development works constituted another 12%. Environment, history, and personalities were the broad theme categories in 6,7, and 8% of the tableaux, respectively. Among the 76 tableaux showcased by ministries in the last decade, around 80% depicted development work. 8% depicted personalities and 5% were environment related. About 4% depicted history.
Only 4 states have sent tableaux across all theme categories
Assam, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the only states to have sent tableaux across all the seven themes. Karnataka’s tableaux were of the theme ‘culture and heritage’ in 7 out of the 17 appearances of the state. Jammu and Kashmir’s five appearances were related to development work in the state/UT. Uttarakhand and Meghalaya showcased environment-related tableaux thrice out of their total 13 and 11 appearances, respectively, since 2005. Assam depicted State Speciality 8 times out of its 15 appearances. Punjab’s tableaux portrayed personalities in 4 appearances and history in 2 appearances.
Gujarat’s tableau was among the top 3 selected by panel and online poll
Following the 2024 parade, awards are announced for the top three tableaux, determined through the evaluation of a panel and an online poll. Three distinct panels of judges were assigned to assess the performance of tableaux representing different States/UTs, Ministries/Departments, and additional events. Based on the assessment of the panels, the top 3 tableaux in 2024 are Odisha (Woman Empowerment in Viksit Bharat) in the first place, followed by Gujarat (Dhordo: A Global Icon of Gujarat’s Border Tourism) in the second place, and Tamil Nadu (Kudavolai System in ancient Tamil Nadu – Mother of Democracy) in the third place. Ministry of Culture – (Bharat: Mother of Democracy) was adjudged best among Ministries/Departments.
Based on the online poll conducted by MyGov that allowed citizens to vote for their favourite tableaux from States/UTs and Ministries/Departments, the top 3 tableaux were that of Gujrat (Dhordo: A Global Icon of Gujarat’s Border Tourism), Uttar Pradesh (Viksit Bharat Samradh Virasat), and Andhra Pradesh (Transforming School Education in Andhra Pradesh – Making Students Globally Competitive) in the first, second and third places. Vibrant Villages (Ministry of Home Affairs) was voted as the best among Ministries/Departments.
New plans may be rolled out to ensure that states can participate at least once in three years
This year, Punjab’s and Karnataka’s chief ministers lashed out at the central government when their tableau got rejected. However, this is not the first time that such issues have been raised by state CMs. Almost every other year, state governments raise issues over the selection process when their tableau gets rejected. Following this, media reports suggest that the Defence Ministry has proposed a new plan to ensure that every State and UT gets an opportunity within a three-year cycle for equitable distribution.

source: news-factly

created: February 5, 2024

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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Between 2014 & 2018, Average per hospitalization expenditure in Private hospitals increased by 23%
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 23, 2020
The 75th round of NSS report on Health indicates that the average per hospitalization expenditure in private hospitals increased by 23% between 2014 & 2018. During the same period, the per hospitalization expenditure in public health care facilities decreased.
Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has released the results of its 75 round of National Sample Survey (NSS).  The survey was conducted during July’2017 – June’2018.  One of the reports published by MOSPI as part of this survey is Health in India report.  The earlier survey on health was conducted as part of the 71 round of NSS for the period January-June’2014. This health report, as part of National Sample Survey on Household Social Consumption helps in gathering basic information related to health sector like – morbidity, profile of the ailments, their treatments, role of government & private facilities in providing healthcare, medical expenditure, maternity, childbirth etc.
In this story we look into the survey findings regarding the trends in expenditure on health in India.
Average expenditure on treatment per hospitalization in a private hospital has increased by 23%
The average expenditure incurred for treatment per hospitalization in a private hospital during the 365-day period of 75 round of survey was Rs. 31,845. Meanwhile, the average expenditure for the same during the earlier round of health survey i.e. during 71 round of NSS (Jan-Jun’ 2014) was Rs. 25,850 which means this has increased by 23%.
The expenditure in case of hospitalization includes – bed charges, doctor’s fee, cost of medication, diagnostic tests, etc. These figures for expenses of hospitalization are excluding the expenses incurred for hospitalization for purpose of childbirth.
There is a large variation between the expenditure in private hospital in Urban areas and Rural areas. As per the survey results, the average medical expenditure incurred in an Urban private hospital for each hospitalization was Rs. 38,822 as per the 75 round of survey, whereas in the earlier survey it was Rs. 28,165 i.e. an increase of nearly 38% . Although, not in the same proportion as urban hospitals, even expenditure incurred in rural private hospitals has also increased significantly. In the latest survey, the average expenditure of hospitalization in a rural private hospital was Rs. 27,347 and  has increased by around 25% compared to 71 round of survey.
Unlike in the private hospitals, the expenditure incurred in a government hospital has reduced during the current survey period compared to previous round of survey. This is the case for government hospitals in both rural and urban areas.
Average Expenditure per hospitalization is higher for Males compared to Females
As per the survey results, Indian households spend more on the hospitalization in case of males when compared to females.  This trend is constant across both Rural and Urban locations as well as the type of hospitals.
In Rural healthcare facilities, the expenditure incurred on average for hospitalization of a male is Rs.19,428 whereas in case of females it is Rs.13,762.  The same holds good even in an Urban setting, wherein the hospitalization expenditure incurred on male is Rs. 29,518 while in the case of females it is Rs. 23,235.
The difference between the expenditure incurred for hospitalization of males and females is starker in cases of Private Hospitals. The average expenditure in incurred for females per hospitalization in rural areas is Rs. 22,292 while for males it is 35% higher with Rs.31,262 per hospitalization. This difference in case of Urban Hospitals is comparatively lesser. Although the average expenditure incurred for males per hospitalization is highest in Urban private hospitals with Rs. 43,088, it is only 25% higher compared expenditure incurred for females.
However, in case of Hospitals that were run by Charitable trusts or NGOs in the Urban areas, the difference between hospitalization costs of males and females is much higher with the expenditure incurred by males being 50% higher.
Expenditure per hospitalization is least for Rural Females from SC community.
Categorized by social group, the survey results show that SC community has the least expenditure on hospitalization compared to other social groups.  On an average, the expenditure incurred by SCs in rural area is Rs. 11,315 per hospitalization which is only 55% of the expenditure of those belonging to ‘Others’ in rural areas i.e. Rs. 20,664.
The expenditure per hospitalization for ‘STs’ and ‘OBCs’ in rural areas is Rs. 14,857 and 16,114 respectively. The ratio holds good even in the case of Urban healthcare facilities, where the expenses are comparatively higher. The per hospitalization expenditure for ‘SCs’ is Rs. 18380, while in case of other social groups it is – Rs.19,492, Rs. 21,778 and Rs. 34,355 respectively for STs, OBCs and Others respectively.
As observed earlier, variations exist in terms of gender as well as the area, with the expenditure per hospitalization being less for females from rural areas. The difference is more evident in case of rural women belonging to SC community where the cost per hospitalization is least with only Rs. 8,802.
86% of the rural population not covered under any health expenditure support program
As per the survey results, a vast majority of the population do not have any type of Health expenditure support. In rural areas, the survey estimates that 85.9% of the households do not have any formalized health expenditure support. In urban areas, it is slightly better with 80.9% of the population not having any sort of support.
The government sponsored insurance schemes benefitted 12.9% of the rural households to meet their health-related expenditure, while 8.9% of the urban households is estimated to have been benefitted from government sponsored schemes.
With a large portion of rural households engaged in agriculture and un-organized sector, only a minute portion i.e. 0.6% and 0.3% have health expenditure support from their employers. The is better in the case of urban population where 3.3% get the support for being employed in government and PSU sector, while 2.9% of the households reported private employer-based health support. 3.8% of the Urban population have arranged health support by opting to insure with Insurance companies on their own, while this is very low in rural areas with only 0.2% of the population making such arrangements on their own.
Better Public health infrastructure is the need of the hour
The survey results indicate the widespread disparities in the expenditure for hospitalization and health based on gender, social group, locality, type of facility (private/public) etc. There could be other factors like type of illness etc. influencing expenditure, but the disparity is evident.
Survey data also shows that nearly 80% of rural households and 84% of the urban ones meet their health-related expenditure through personal income and savings. Another 17% & 13% of rural and urban households respectively meet the expenditure through borrowings and help from friend and relatives. Such expenditure puts the marginal and low-income communities at a disadvantage and gets them into a debt trap as they lack the necessary resources.
The situation is not even across the country. States like Andhra Pradesh (76%), Telangana (70%), Chhattisgarh (66%) etc. have higher coverage of rural households under government insurance schemes and also have a good proportion of urban households covered as well. While the Ayushman Bharat scheme, modelled on the lines of Aarogyasri in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, now provides insurance coverage to 10 crore households across the country, this is limited to tertiary treatment. A good chunk of the health expenditure by households could be for illnesses not covered by such schemes.  The only way out is better public health facilities since the expenditure is least in public facilities, as the survey points out.
Better public health facilities like in the case of United Kingdom and the Nordic Countries are the need of the hour.
Featured Image: Average per hospitalization expenditure

created: September 23, 2020


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Between 2014 & 2018,no Police Personnel were convicted for Custodial deaths
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 2, 2020
The custodial deaths of a father-son duo in Tamil Nadu have caught national attention. While custodial deaths & police behaviour are once again under spotlight, data reveals a very worrying trend. No police personnel were convicted for custodial deaths between 2014 & 2018.
Recently, in Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu), a father and son were allegedly killed due to brutality inflicted up on them by the police. The news has sparked outrage in social media, with even celebrities and politicians demanding justice. The incident came into light and gained attention through an RJ’s Instagram post.
Sattankulam police had filed FIR on 19 June 2020 against the father-son duo under IPC 188, 269, 294(b), 353, and 506 (2)- for disobeying public order and for abusing police officers. The complaint was filed by the head constable stating that the father and son had kept their shop open beyond the curfew time due to COVID-19. According to the FIR filed by the police, when the police warned them to close the shop during the patrol, they verbally abused the police and ‘rolled on the ground injuring themselves’ following which they were taken to the station and the FIR was filed.
However, the kin of the deceased stated that the men were subjected to brutal torture. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, satisfied with the prima facie evidence – a female constable’s statement, medical report, and judicial magistrate’s report, directed that the case be taken over by the CB-CID before the CBI takes over.
This is not the first time that the police have been under the scanner for custodial torture & brutality. During the nation-wide lockdown, several videos of police attacking migrants and street vendors  have surfaced on social media, raising questions on the conduct of police.
Data on Custodial deaths is published by the NCRB
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) publishes data on the number of deaths that take place in police custody each year, along with reasons, in the annual Crimes in India publication. The latest report is that of 2018.
Between 2001 to 2018, a total of 1,727 persons have died in police custody including those in judicial remand and those who have been arrested but not yet produced before the court. On average, 96 persons in custody have lost their lives annually. In 2010 and 2018, the number was lowest at 70, while 2005 reported the highest number of such cases at 128 in these 18 years. In the last five years, between 2014 to 2018, 452 persons had lost their lives, accounting for 26% of such deaths in 18 years.
7 states account for 69% of Custodial deaths
State wise data reveals that in the five years between 2014 and 2018, Maharashtra (78), Andhra Pradesh (70), and Gujarat (52), reported more than 50 deaths each. While Tamil Nadu reported 35 deaths, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh reported 30 each during this period. These seven states alone accounted for 69% of the custodial deaths reported in India between 2014 & 2018. A closer look at the data reveals that the number of deaths reported by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh in 2018 alone was much higher than the total deaths reported by 23 states in all these five years.
Zero police personnel were convicted in five years
While 452 deaths were reported in custody between 2014 to 2018, only 192 cases were registered during this period, and 118 policemen were charge sheeted. No police personnel were convicted during this period. Numbers show that in the 18 years between 2001 & 2018, only 810 cases were registered, 334 charge sheeted, and only 26 police personnel were convicted.
Among the seven states mentioned earlier, 4 police personnel were convicted in Madhya Pradesh while 17 were convicted in Uttar Pradesh in the 18-year period. In addition to these, Chhattisgarh reported four convictions and Odisha reported one. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan had zero convictions of police personnel despite the large number of custodial deaths & cases.
31 Custodial deaths between 2014 & 2018 because of Police assault
In the five years under consideration (2014-2018), 153 persons which is one-third of all custodial deaths had died due to suicide. Illness was the reason recorded behind the deaths of 22.5% (102 persons). Physical assault by police induced injuries had resulted in the deaths of 31 persons, around 7%.
In 2014, 10% of the deaths were due to the injuries caused by physical assault of the police. In the subsequent years, 6% in 2015, 9% in 2016, 5% in 2017, and 4% deaths in 2018 were reported to have taken place due to the same reason.
More than 5000 cases were registered against police personnel in 2018
Furthermore, in 2018 alone, a total of 5,479 cases were registered against police personnel. 89 cases of human rights violation were registered against police personnel in the same year. This included 4 cases of encounter killing, 17 extortion cases, 3 cases of torture, 3 deaths in custody and 1 for illegal detention. Besides, cases of rape, atrocities on SC and ST, and offences against children have also been reported to have been committed by police in the past.
The major functions of the Police are to maintain public order and safety, law enforcement, and prevention, investigation, and detection of criminal activities. While they exercise their duty, it is also important that they behave with due courtesy and decorum with the public, especially senior citizens, women, and children. This comes under the social responsibilities of the police as per the Model Police Act, 2006.  The Police is a state subject under the seventh schedule.
Procedures & rules to be followed while arresting a person
Police officers cannot beat a person, intimidate, slap, or threaten them. This is against the law and the police officer can be punished. As per the guidelines on effective police custody management, a person can be detained only on valid and reasonable grounds for a minimum period of time. Likewise, there are many other rights a person can exercise, when under arrest or detention. As everyone is aware of these rules, it is mandatory that the procedures and requirements that need to be followed during the arrest, detention, and interrogation of a person, known as D K Basu guidelines, have to be displayed on the notice boards of all police stations, and chowkis.
NHRC has issued guidelines to report custodial deaths
In cases of custodial deaths, the National Human Rights Commission has issued guidelines. Every case of custodial death and rape has to be informed to NHRC within 24 hours of occurrence. Various reports including the inquest, post-mortem, videography of post-mortem, and magisterial inquiry report needs to be submitted as well for ascertaining foul play or negligence, if any, that caused the death. The commission has also prescribed a format for reporting. Magisterial enquiry should also be conducted at the earliest. The enquiry magistrate must visit the crime scene, identify and record statements of witnesses, and collect relevant information such as circumstances of death, manner and sequence of events, and cause of death.
Rules & Guidelines do not come to the rescue of victims
In spite of there being so many guidelines and laws to safeguard human rights, there are several cases of custodial deaths and police brutality. Zero convictions for custodial deaths between 2014 & 2018 is a matter of great concern. On top of that,  zero convictions in many states for many years is deeply worrying.
All these expose the serious flaws in the system and call for urgent reforms in police. Though there are many attempts at image makeover of the police and make them people friendly, the issues of custodial deaths, rapes, torture, etc. put a serious on all such attempts. The latest case in Tamil Nadu will be closely watched for it is time the judicial process brings the perpetrators to book.
Featured Image: Custodial deaths


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Data: Between 2014 & 2022, Number of Crimes Against Children Increased by Over 80%, Increase Observed in Most States
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 19, 2023
Data from the CII reports of NCRB shows that the number of crimes against children increased by over 80% between 2014 & 2022. Further, 25 of the 29 states also registered an increase in crimes against children. This increase was not limited to urban areas alone.
A ‘Child’ under the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) is defined as a person who is below 18 years of age. The same definition of a child is also given in United Nations Convention on Child Rights (UNCCR). One of the principal reasons behind defining a person as an adult or a child by the age of 18 is the difference in their mental status or capability.
Expanding on the mental capability of children, Article 2 of the United Nations World Declaration on Survival, Protection and Development (WDSPD) notes that Children are innocent, dependent, full of hope and vulnerable. Their time should be of joy, peace, learning and growing, shaping their future into harmony and cooperation. Similarly, Article 27 (1) of UNCCR, 1992, ratified by about 196 states, including India, states that the state parties recognize the “right of every child to a standard of living adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and social development”. In other words, these legislative systems recognize the fundamental reality of a helpless state and the full dependency of children on parents, elders, and the society at large to protect, nurture, develop and provide them with a bright future.
However, the data on crimes committed against children shows a contrasting picture. The recently published peer-reviewed PMC journal based on the review of 112 reports from 96 countries on the violence committed against children shows that in the year 2022, an estimated over 1 billion children in the age group of 2 to 17 years across the globe have experienced violence against them. It goes on to mention that a minimum of 50% or more of children in Asia, Africa, and Northern America experienced past-year violence.
The situation is no different in India, as indicated by the data published by the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) which shows a continuing trend of rising violence and crimes committed against children.
In this story, we look at the growing number of crimes committed against children in the past decade in India.
Methodology
The data has been sourced from the Collection of Datasets on Crimes Against Children made by Dataful from NCRB reports. The same data is used for analysis in this story.
Limitations to the Data Recorded by NCRB
The NCRB’s yearly reports on crimes in India state that the data published in them is the compilation of data on crime cases recorded by Police. Therefore, the crime data provided by NCRB is only of the crimes that have been recorded, but not all incidents of actual crimes committed against children.
Further, the NCRB follows the method of the ‘Principal Offence Rule’ in recording crimes. This means that even if several different types of crimes committed against children are recorded in a single FIR (multiple sections of the penal code), only the most heinous crime (maximum punishment) among these crimes is taken as a single unit and all offences are counted as one single offence for the purpose of NCRB reports.
For the above reasons, the number of crimes recorded by NCRB may not represent the actual number of crimes committed against Children in India.
Data shows increase in number of Crimes
The analysis of NCRB data compiled by Dataful shows that from the year 2014 to 2022, there has been a steady increase in the number of crimes against children in India.
Data shows that from the year 2014 to 2022, there has been a steady increase in the number of crimes committed against children every year, except the year 2020, which was hit by COVID-19. The number of crimes against children shows a steep increase from 89,423 in 2014 to 1,62,449 in 2022, an increase of 81% in nine years.
Apart from the NCRB, even the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), the dedicated body set up to ensure the welfare of Children, in its recent report also notes that “cases of crime against children/child rights violation have been increasing expeditiously, which is horrifying and a threat to the future of our country.” Further, the Supreme Court of India particularly noted the trends in the rise of the number of rapes committed against Children in its suo motu petition. In other words, all these bodies have taken note of the increase in crimes against children.
25 out of 29 states have witnessed rise in Crimes
The data also shows that 25 of the 29 states in India have reported an increase in the number of crimes committed against children during the years between 2014 and 2022. The data does not indicate a rise in the number of crimes only in states of any particular region. Most states in almost all regions of the country have reported an increase in the number of crimes committed against children.
Data shows that only 4 states viz. Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura have reported fewer crimes against children in 2022 when compared to 2014.
Further analysis of the data also shows that from the year 2016 to 2022, there are 9 states viz. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Rajasthan reported over 5% each of the overall number of crimes committed against children in India. Among these states, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh have each reported over 10% of crimes committed against children in India for all 7 years from 2016 to 2022.
Data does not indicate increase in Crimes only in Cities
As part of the reporting crimes against children, the NCRB also publishes separate data on the number of crimes against children in about 53 cities of 18 states in India with over 2 million population. The comparison of the overall number of crimes committed against children in India and the contribution of monitored cities in each state shows both the increasing and decreasing trends of the share of crimes against children in these cities.
Data for the years 2014 and 2021 shows that while 11 states of monitored cities have shown a decrease, 7 states have shown an increase in the percentage share of such crimes in monitored cities.
Hence, it can be concluded that the crimes against Children are increasing not only in Urban areas but even in rural areas. The number of cities monitored and the varying figures in data show that while cities of some of the states have witnessed a decline, cities of other states have witnessed an increase in the number of crimes. Even the data of the national capital Delhi shows that the number of crimes against children has decreased from 9,350 in 2014 to 7,468 in 2022.
Crimes against Children is a Major Cause of Concern, India needs Efficient Systems in Place
The former South African President Nelson Mandela once famously said, ‘There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”. The crime in any form and any number against the most vulnerable sections of the society, the Children, reflects the sad state of well-being of not only the children but also the society as a whole.
In India, as mentioned earlier, multiple agencies have noted this increase in crimes against children. The numbers call for immediate and exhaustive measures that are focused primarily on the prevention of the number of crimes committed against children. It is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court of India in its Suo Motu petition has directed for the constitution of special courts in districts that have recorded more than 100 cases under the POCSO Act. These courts are to try no other offences except those registered under the POCSO Act.
While setting up such exclusive courts is a welcome move, what India needs is a more comprehensive approach to the prevention of crimes against children. Such an approach will require the identification of the underlying causes that are leading to the rise in crimes against children to attain the 2030 Sustainable Development goal of ending “abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against, and torture of, children.”

created: December 19, 2023


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Between 2015 & 2019, enrolment in Public Universities grew by 11% while in Private by 71%
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 26, 2021
The AISHE for 2019-20 indicates that the enrolment in private universities has substantially increased between 2015 & 2019, on account of the increase in the number of such institutions. Enrolment in private universities accounted for 24.5% of the total enrolment in 2019-20, up from 18% in 2015-16.
In continuation of our previous story on the All India Survey on Higher Education Survey (AISHE), we look at student enrolment at various levels during the last 5 years by type of university and level of education in this story. The enrolment trends over the last 5 years reveal two important details:
What are the different types of Universities?
A Central University is defined as a university established or incorporated by a Central Act, whereas a State university is incorporated by a Provincial Act or by a State Act. An Open University imparts education exclusively through distance education. A Private University is defined as a university established through a State/Central Act by a private sponsoring body such as a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, or any other corresponding law for the time being in force in a State or a Public Trust or a Company registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. A Deemed University is an Institution Deemed to be University, which refers to a high-performing institute, which has been declared by Central Government under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Act, 1956.
Institute of National Importance is an Institution established by the Act of Parliament and declared as an Institution of National Importance such as an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT). Institute Under State Legislature Act is an institution established or incorporated by a State Legislature Act. There are 5 such Universities, Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad; Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati; Shere-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar; Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna; Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow.
Student enrolment highest in State Public Universities
According to the data released by AISHE Survey 2019-20, student enrolment is the highest in State Universities and reveals the following:
Enrolment in Private Universities up 71% in 5 years, more than 6 times the growth in Public Universities
Over the past 5 years, the trend in student enrolment by type of university shows an increasing trend for some and a consistent enrolment trend for others.
The significant trend is that the enrolment in private universities (state, deemed & open) has increased by more than 71% between 2015-19 while in public universities (state, central, open, deemed, INIs, etc.), it increased by around 11% during the same period. On account of this, the share of enrolments in private universities increased from 18% in 2015-16 to 24.5% in 2019-20.
Under-Graduates account for 80% of Student Enrolment
According to the data released by AISHE Survey 2019-20, the highest proportion of student enrolment is for under-graduate courses and reveals the following:
Over the past 5 years, the trend in student enrolment by the level of education shows a significant steep increase in enrolment for undergraduate courses.
CAGR of Overall student enrolment at various levels at 20% between 2015-19
In sync with the above observations, we look at Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for different courses.
Featured Image: Enrolment in Public Universities


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Data: Between 2016 & 2021, Four States Accounted For 53% of The Organ Donations Reported From Across The Country
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 22, 2022
In India, organs can be donated either by the living donors or from the deceased. Like in many countries, there is a wide gap between the supply & demand. Data from 2016 & 2021 indicates that four states account for 53% of the organ donations reported from across the country. Proportion of living donors is far greater than the deceased.
The first ever successful organ transplant was done in 1954, in the USA, when a healthy kidney was transplanted to an identical twin who had chronic kidney failure. Over the decades, the technology assisting organ transplant has vastly improved with successful transplants of many other organs.
Organ transplants have proved to be lifesaving in many critical situations caused due to organ failure. However, the concept of organ donation still does not have a wider acceptance and is largely overlooked. The shortage of organs is a universal problem and India is also one of the countries where there is a wide gap between those who need transplants and the organs that are available. In other words, there is a huge supply-demand gap.  The data provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) about the ‘National Organ Transplant Programme’ highlights this situation.
In India, the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 (THOA) was enacted to provide a standard legal framework relating to organ donation and transplantation as well as to prevent illegal commercial dealings in human organs. This was further reformed and amended, with the enactment of the Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act 2011.  Factly’s explainer on Organ donation can be found here.
So, what have been the trends in organ donation in India? We look at the numbers based on the data provided by the Government of India in the parliament.
Organs donated in 2021 back to pre-pandemic levels after a fall in 2020
Trends in recent years indicated a gradual increase in the number of organs donated every year.
As per a response in Lok Sabha, there were a total of 9,581 donations in 2017. This was higher than the number in 2016 when it was 9046, based on an answer in Rajya Sabha. The numbers increased in successive years.
However, there was a fall in 2020, when the total number of organ donations was only 7519 compared to 12746 in 2019.  News reports and various sources indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic was the prime reason for this fall. The limitations around movements, hospitals infrastructure occupied with tackling the pandemic, etc. could have influenced the number of organ transplant operations in 2020. In 2021, the number increased to 12387, which is close to the pre-pandemic level. It is also believed that this higher number in 2021 could be due to the many pending operations from 2020 being pushed to 2021.
Increasing proportion of organ donations from living donors
Organs can be donated by either the living donors or from the deceased. Living donors include both related donors and unrelated donors who are emotionally attached to the one receiving the organ. The organs that living donors can donate include – Kidney, a portion of the Liver/lung/pancreas.
In India, Brain Stem death is categorised as a legal death and organ donation from such deceased can be done. The organs include – Eyes, Kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, uterus, nerves, etc.
In India, trends indicate that the organ donation from the living is higher than from the deceased. In fact over the years, the trends indicate an increasing proportion of organ donations from the living. In 2016, around 75% of the organs donated were from living donors. Out of the 9046 recorded organs donated, 6781 were from the living donors and the remaining 2265 were from the deceased. Except for 2018, the proportion of organs donated by living donors out of the total has increased year-on-year. During the pandemic hit in 2020, the share of living donors was around 86%, and this remained the same even in 2021.
Despite a law in place which facilitates and encourages organ donation from deceased persons, the overall numbers remain low. In fact, the actual number of organs donated by the deceased show a decline despite an overall increasing trend in the total number of organs donated.
4 states make up more than 50% of the total organ donations
The trends in organ donations are not only skewed between living and deceased but also geographically. Few states contribute towards a major share of the organ donations in the country. Geographically, it is higher in the Southern and Western states of the country.
If the cumulative total of the 6-year period (2016-2021) is considered, Delhi has the highest number of organ donations with 11,181, out of which a major share of 10,778 are from living persons. Delhi being the capital city and a major medical hub of the country is a factor in the higher number of transplant surgeries being done, which in turn results in higher organ donations in the country.
Tamil Nadu is the next with around 10 thousand donations in the last six years. Compared to Delhi, the ratio of organ donations from living donors and deceased is better with 6.9 thousand from living and the rest from deceased. Maharashtra & Telangana are next on the list of most organ donations. These four states together account for around 53% of the donations. It ought to be noted that these states are home to major cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, etc., which are the medical hubs that attract patients from within the states and from all over the country. The presence of hospital infrastructure in these cities could be the major reason for this skew.
The other two southern states of Karnataka & Kerala along with Gujarat, Bengal & Haryana are among the states with a higher number of organ donations. In most of the states, the trends conform to the overall trends i.e., the donations from the living donors are proportionally higher than that of the deceased and there is a fall in the donations during 2020, which increased in the subsequent year.
There are exceptions to the general trend
Data does throw up a few exceptions to the general trend. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, during the period 2016-2018, the number of organ donations from the deceased was higher than compared to from living donors contrary to the common trend in other states. During these years, 374 organ donations were from the deceased, while it was 102 from the living. It ought to be noted that in each of these three years, the donations from the deceased were higher. However, the trend changed in 2019 and conforms to the larger trend of donations from living donors being higher than from the deceased.
Prior to 2020, there was no record of organ donations in Chhattisgarh. However, in 2020, 213 donations were from living persons. This increase during the pandemic year is an outlier to the common trend across the states. The number fell to 32 in the next year.
A common trend observed in 2021 is that most of the states have an increased proportion of organ donations from the living. This is the case even among states like Tamil Nadu, which earlier had a better distribution between living donors & the deceased.
Need to increase the organs donated from the deceased
Comprehensive data on the specific organ donated by the living is not available from publicly accessible official government sources. This information would throw further light on the nature of the requirement for organs and the reliance on them from the living.
Most of the cases where organs are donated from the living donor are a result of the requirement which arose rather than a voluntary act of donation. On the other hand, the organs donated from the deceased are voluntary.
In view of the increasing gap between the organs required for transplant and organs donated, it is extremely important that initiatives are taken to encourage organ donation from the deceased.
The DGHS website highlights a few of these challenges.
In its response in Lok Sabha, the government highlighted the various steps taken towards increasing the awareness of organ donation. Most of the steps are towards wider dissemination of the information through various media. The impact of these campaigns remains to be seen.
Featured Image: Organ Donations

created: December 22, 2022


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Data: BJP is The Beneficiary of 39% of Electoral Bonds Redeemed in 2021-22, and 57% of EBs Redeemed Up To 2021-22 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 24, 2023
Access here Comprehensive Data on Electoral Bonds (as of February 2024)
Data from the Annual Audit Reports submitted by political parties to the Election Commission of India indicates that in 2021-22, BJP was the beneficiary of 39% of the EBs redeemed during the year followed by Trinamool Congress which redeemed 20% of the EBs. The Congress was fifth in the list with DMK & BJD in the 3rd & 4th positions for 2021-22.
Since the introduction of Electoral Bonds (EBs) in January 2018, they have become an important part of the funding of political parties in India. During the first two complete fiscal years after the introduction of Electoral Bonds i.e., 2018-19 and 2019-20, Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 2.55 thousand crores and Rs. 3.44 thousand crores were purchased.
In an earlier story, we have highlighted that in contrast to the trend, there was a sharp fall in the value of Electoral Bonds purchased in 2020-21, with Rs. 472 crores, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. We also highlighted that in the ensuing year i.e., 2021-22, EBs worth Rs. 2.67 thousand crores were purchased. This is the second highest value in a fiscal year after 2019-20. It is understandable in context of the assembly elections in multiple states during 2021-22. But the beneficiaries of the same were unknown until the political parties submitted their annual audit documents much later.
Recently, most of the recognised National and State political parties have submitted they Audit reports for 2021-22. These reports provide insights about the beneficiaries of the electoral bonds purchased in 2021-22. The data for the analysis is taken from Factly’s Dataful, which in turn has sourced it from the Annual Audit Reports submitted by Political parties with the Election Commission of India.
Nearly 39% of EBs purchased in 2021-22 redeemed by BJP, 20% by Trinamool Congress
As per the RTI information received from State Bank of India (SBI), the total value of EBs redeemed during 2021-22 was Rs. 2.67 thousand crores. Details of the EBs across the various phases since the launch of the scheme can be accessed from Factly’s comprehensive Dashboard, ‘Electoral Bonds- The Numbers’.
Out of the total EBs purchased in 2021-22, BJP has redeemed EBs worth Rs.1.03 thousand crores accounting to nearly 39% of the total bonds redeemed. Another major National Party i.e., the INC has redeemed bonds worth Rs. 236.1 crores and ranks only 5in terms of political parties with most EBs redeemed in 2021-22. It ought to be noted that since inception, INC ranked only next to BJP as a beneficiary of EBs. In our earlier story, we highlighted a change in these trends, wherein there is an increase in the share of EBs redeemed by other parties part from these two national parties.
In 2021-22, Trinamool Congress has redeemed the second highest value of EBs with Rs. 528.14 crores i.e., nearly 1/5 of the total value of EBs. It is followed by DMK, which redeemed Rs. 306 crores worth of EBs. It ought to be noted that elections for State legislatures of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu happened during 2021-22. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand were the other states where elections were held during 2021-22.
The general trend has been that apart from the BJP & INC, the other political parties receive donations through EBs during the elections in States where they have a significance presence.
In this context, it is significant to see BJD and TRS receiving Rs. 291 crores and Rs. 153 crores during 2021-22, even though there weren’t any assembly elections in Odisha & Telangana, apart from bye elections for one and two seats respectively. The total value of EBs redeemed as per the Annual Reports for 2021-22 submitted by major recognised parties amounts to Rs. 2.63 thousand crores. EBs worth 39.9 crores are yet to be accounted for. In other words, more than 98% of the EBs purchased during 2021-22 are accounted for.
More than 90% of the Income of Trinamool Congress, DMK & BJD in 2021-22 through EBs
The income of political parties is received through various means. As per the annual audit report submitted by BJP, the total income of the party is Rs. 1.9 thousand crores in 2021-22. Electoral bonds make up around 54% of the total income. The party has received around 1.7 thousand crores through ‘Donations, Grants, Contributions, etc.’, of which EBs account for 58%. The other forms of income under this category include donations from – Electoral trusts, corporates, non-corporate entities, etc.
Congress received only about 44% of its total income through EBs. Of the income through donations, grants & contributions, EBs make up about 68% in the case of INC. On the other hand, the share of EBs in the total Income of a political party is more prominent in case of other parties, mainly – Trinamool Congress, DMK and BJD.
EBs make up 96.7% of the total Rs. 545.75 crores income of Trinamool congress in 2021-22. In case of DMK, it is 96% of Rs. 318.75 crores income.  BJD which has over the years received substantial contribution through EBs apart from BJP & INC, has nearly 95% of its income in 2021-22 through EBs. In fact, EBs make up 100% of the total income through contributions for BJD.
In case of TRS and YSRCP, the other Recognised State parties that receive substantial amount of EBs, they make up around 70% and 60% respectively, of the total income. While both the two large National Parties of BJP & INC seem to have other sources of income apart from EBs, many of the regional parties seem to be reliant on EBs for their income.
BJP is beneficiary of 57% of the Electoral Bonds redeemed until 2021-22
While BJP’s share of total EBs redeemed in 2021-22 is less than its share prior to 2020-21, it still is the biggest beneficiary of Electoral Bonds by quite some amount.  The total value of EBs redeemed by BJP until 2021-22 is Rs. 5.27 thousand crores i.e., around 57% of the total EBs redeemed during the period. Meanwhile, the share of Congress, which is the second highest beneficiary is about 10.4%. Trinamool Congress and BJD, which have redeemed EBs worth more than Congress in 2021-22, are catching up with the Congress. The share of TMC in the total value of EBs redeemed until 2021-22 is 8.4% while in case of BJD, it is 6.8%.
Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 2.8 thousand crores purchased during 2022-23, second highest in a year
During 2022-23, the sale of EBs was done through 6 phases (Phase XX to XXV). As per the data received from SBI, the total value of EBs purchased across the 6 phases is Rs. 2.8 thousand crores. This is higher than previous year and thus ranks next only to 2019-20 in terms of the value of EBs purchased in a year. Out of this Rs. 2.79 thousand crores are redeemed.
The highest was during Phase XXIII, where in 954 EBs worth Rs. 676.2 crores were purchased. This was during November 2022. The first sale period during 2022-23 i.e., Phase XX which happened in April 2022 has seen sale of 811 bonds worth Rs. 648.8 crores.
As we have highlighted multiple times in our earlier stories, one must wait for a long while to know the political parties that benefitted from EBs. While 2022-23 has seen the second highest value of EBs sold and redeemed, the details of beneficiaries will only be known earliest by latter part of 2023 when political parties submit their annual audit reports.
Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh were the states which went to polls during 2022-23. There were bye-elections across few states for both assembly & Lok Sabha constituencies. In 2023-24, assembly general elections are due in five large states i.e., Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana. The year would also mark a runup to the 2024 National General Elections. It is quite possible that the amount of EBs purchased & redeemed in 2023-24 would surpass all previous years.

created: February 24, 2023


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BJP is the beneficiary of 65% of all Electoral Bonds redeemed by end of 2020-21
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 7, 2022
Access here Comprehensive Data on Electoral Bonds (as of February 2024)
Most of the major recognized national & state parties have submitted their ‘Annual Audit Reports’ for the year 2020-21. Data from 2017-18 indicates that the number of EBs purchased & redeemed was the lowest in 2020-21. While the three regional parties of YSRCP, DMK & BJD accounted for 75% of the EBs redeemed in 2020-21, BJP retains its position as the largest beneficiary with 65% EBs redeemed till 2020-21.
The 20 Phase of ‘Electoral Bond Scheme 2018’ was announced by Government of India on 30March 2022. The sale of Electoral Bonds (EBs) was carried out by the State Bank of India (SBI) during 01 April 2022 and 10 April 2022. This was the first sale of Electoral Bonds in the current financial year, with the earlier phase of sale between 01 January 2022 and 10 January 2022. Unlike the earlier phase which was prior to the Assembly elections in five states, there aren’t any immediate elections barring certain bye-elections to Lok Sabha & State Assemblies.
In this story, we look at the trends in purchase & redemption of electoral bonds during 20 phase. Further, with most of the major political parties submitting their Annual Audit Reports for 2020-21, we also look at the trends in Electoral Bonds purchased & redeemed by the respective political parties in 2020-21.
Factly’s comprehensive Dashboard, ‘Electoral Bonds- The Numbers’, has details of the Electoral Bonds across the various phases since the launch of the scheme and can be accessed here.
Electoral Bonds worth Rs. 648 Crores Purchased & Redeemed in 20th Phase
As per the information received from SBI in response to a RTI application, a total of 811 EBs worth Rs. 648.49 crores were sold during the 20 Phase i.e., between 01 April and 10April, 2022. All the EBs purchased were redeemed.  This is about 53% of the EBs sold in the immediately preceding phase in January 2022 when EBs worth Rs. 1.21 thousand crores were sold by SBI during the 19 Phase.
The lower sale of EBs compared to earlier phase is understandable. The 19 phase of sale was prior to the Assembly elections of 5 states during February-March’2022, especially in the key States of Uttar Pradesh & Punjab.  There aren’t any major elections currently or scheduled in the next few months except for certain bye-elections Lok Sabha & respective state assemblies.
Out of the 811 Bonds purchased in the latest phase, 640 EBs i.e., 79% of the total bonds were of Rs. 1 Crore denomination. Comparatively, the share of EBs of  one crore denomination bonds in the 19th Phase were 56%.  In line with the earlier trends, the bonds of lower value have a lower share. During the 20 phase, 79 EBs of Rs. 10 Lakh, 55 of Rs. 1 lakh and 37 EBs of Rs.10 thousand denomination were purchased.
During 20th Phase, most EBs purchased & redeemed in Hyderabad
Out of the 811 Electoral Bonds that were purchased in the 20 Phase, 530 were purchased in Hyderabad.  The value of these Electoral Bonds is Rs. 425.99 crores which is around 66% of the total value of EBs purchased in the latest phase. The next highest purchase was made in Chennai. A total of 100 EBs worth Rs.100 crores were purchased. While 93 bonds were purchased in Kolkata, the value is lower with Rs. 39 crores compared to Mumbai & New Delhi with 43 & 40 EBs of Rs. 43 crores and Rs.40 crores respectively.
Hyderabad also tops in terms of the EBs redeemed. As highlighted earlier, all the EBs purchased in 20 Phase were redeemed, and of these, 525 EBs were redeemed in Hyderabad. The next highest number of EBs were redeemed in New Delhi, with 165 bonds worth Rs.165 crores. A further 100 EBs were redeemed in Chennai. With no elections in the immediate future in either of the Telugu-speaking states of Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, the reason for the major portion of EBs being purchased and redeemed in Hyderabad is uncertain.
Least number of Electoral Bonds purchased in 2020-21
The first phase of EBs sale was during March’2018. This was the only phase for the year 2017-18. A total of 520 EBs worth Rs. 222 crores were sold in the first phase.  In the ensuing fiscal year of 2018-19, there were seven phases of sale of EBs, through which 5,293 EBs worth Rs. 2.55 thousand crores were sold. This year included general elections in few key states as well as the initial phase of 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
A higher number of bonds were sold during 2019-20. During the five phases in this fiscal year i.e., IX to XIII, a total of 6,639 EBs worth Rs. 3.43 thousand crores were sold. Phase IX & X coincided with general elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in few of the larger states.
However, in 2020-21, there was a huge fall with only 472 EBs worth Rs. 324.39 crores sold across two phases. It also ought to be noted that this coincided with COVID-19 pandemic in the country. This is the least in terms of number of bonds sold, even lower than the single phase in 2017-18. In terms of value, it is only slightly higher than in 2017-18.
In terms of fiscal years, 2020-21 is an anomaly as Rs. 2.67 thousand crores worth of EBs were sold in the next year i.e., 2021-22. In fact, the amount of EBs purchased in 2020-21 is lower than in the single phase of 2022-23 so far. In terms of value of EBs, 2021-22 is the second highest, while in terms of number of EBs sold, it is the third highest.
3 Regional State Parties accounted for 75% of the EBs redeemed in 2020-21
In an earlier story, we had highlighted that the long waiting period for a common citizen to know about the beneficiaries of EBs. Such information would be available in the public domain only when political parties submit their ‘Annual Audit reports’ to the Election Commission of India (ECI). These reports are uploaded on the ECI website.
Delay in the submission of these annual reports further pushes the timeline to know about the beneficiaries of EBs. In the earlier story, we had highlighted that only 2 of the seven recognized National parties submitted the Annual Audit reports for 2020-21 as of February’2022.
With BJP’s submission of its Annual Audit report recently, we now have the Annual Audit Reports of all the Seven National parties along with most of the recognized State parties. Contributions through EBs is specified in Annual Report as part of ‘Donations’ or ‘Voluntary Contributions’.
In an earlier story, we highlighted that BJP has received the most of EBs till 2019-20. The other major National party i.e., INC stands a distant second.  However, 2020-21 presents a contrasting picture with BJP being the beneficiary for only about 6.9% of the Electoral Bonds redeemed in that year.
We have already highlighted that 2020-21 is unique in terms of the lower value of electoral bonds purchased in the year compared to the other years. In this one-of-a-kind year, the regional parties benefitted the most from EBs.
Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), a recognized state party as well as the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh is the number one beneficiary in 2020-21. As per its ‘Annual Audit Report’ submitted to the ECI, the party received Rs. 96.25 crores worth EBs which account for 29.7% of the total EBs redeemed in 2020-21.  Two other regional parties (recognized state parties), DMK and BJD received Rs. 80 crores & Rs. 67 crores respectively, which constitute 24.7% & 20.7% of the total EBs redeemed in 2020-21 respectively. These three parties together received more than 75% of the EBs redeemed in 2020-21.
Among the recognized National parties, Trinamool Congress received the most EBs worth Rs. 42 crores. BJP & INC which traditionally are the top two beneficiaries of EBs received only Rs. 22.39 crores and Rs. 10.08 crores respectively in 2020-21.
AAP & JD(U) are the other parties which received contributions through EBs in 2020-21. As per the available information through the Annual Audit Reports, a total of eight (8) political parties received the contributions through EBs in 2020-21. The beneficiary of about one crore worth EBs is yet to be ascertained from the information submitted with ECI.
BJP is the beneficiary of 65% of the EBs redeemed till 2020-21
Despite receiving a lower share of EBs in 2020-21, the BJP retains a major share of the EBs redeemed by end of 2020-21.  A total of Rs. 6.5 thousand crores worth EBs were redeemed by 19 political parties from 2017-18 to 2020-21. This includes 4 recognized national parties and 15 recognized state parties.
The BJP has redeemed Rs. 4.23 thousand crores worth EBs from 2017-18 to 2020-21, which is 65% of the total amount during these years. This is nearly 6 times that of second placed Indian National Congress, which has redeemed Rs. 716 crores till 2020-21. The two regional parties of BJD & YSRCP occupy the next two places followed by Trinamool Congress, a recognized National party.
Beneficiaries of Rs. 2.6 thousand crores worth EBs for 2021-22 will only be known in 2023
As noted earlier, the year 2020-21 was an outlier not only in terms of the lower value of EBs purchased & redeemed, but also in terms of the beneficiaries of these EBs. For the first time, recognized state parties cornered a significant portion of EBs so much so that three recognized state parties accounted for 75% of the EBs redeemed in 2020-21 while the BJP & Congress together accounted for about 10% of the EBs redeemed in 2020-21.
However, this does not alter the overall composition of the beneficiaries of EBs, especially of the BJP because of the lower number of bonds purchased & redeemed in 2020-21. Even after including 2020-21, the BJP is the beneficiary of close to 2/3 of the EBs redeemed till 2020-21.
In 2021-22, EBs worth more than Rs. 2,600 crores were purchased & redeemed, in line with the trend in 2018-19.  With the national parties being the key stake holders in the states that went to elections during 2021-22, it is quite possible that unlike in 2020-21, BJP & INC could have the primary beneficiaries of EBs in 2021-22.  However, one can only be certain of this after the parties submit their ‘Annual Audit Reports’ for 2021-22, which could only be in early 2023.


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BSNL & MTNL losses reduce in 2020-21 on account of Employee VRS
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 18, 2021
The state-owned ‘Telecom Service Providers’, BSNL & MTNL have been in losses for more than a decade now. Multiple reasons have been mentioned for their state of affairs, especially after a decade of phenomenal rise in mobile subscribers. The latest data indicates that their losses have reduced in 2020-21 mainly on account of the VRS implemented last year. Here is a review.
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) is a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India under the Ministry of Communications that provides telephony services in Delhi and Mumbai circles. Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) which is also a Public Sector Undertaking is 100% owned by the Government of India and provides telecom services in the rest of the country excluding Delhi and Mumbai.  MTNL was set up in 1986 while BSNL was formed in the year 2000. Both these PSUs have been in news for the last couple of years following the government’s efforts and debates around their revival as both these entities have been making losses for many years now.
BSNL has been in losses for more than a decade
BSNL, which was one of the best performing PSUs in the country at one point of time has lost its sheen in the latter half of the 2000s. It continued to make profits until 2008-09. However, since then, BSNL has continuously recorded losses despite the massive growth in the telecommunication industry. This may be attributed to the emergence of strong private players who are providing better service at a lower cost, thereby providing stiff competition to the state-owned entity. Currently, there are only four players in the Indian mobile communication market including three private players (Airtel, Reliance, and Vodafone Idea) and the government combine of BSNL/MTNL.
BSNL’s loss was Rs. 6,384 crores in 2010-11, according to data presented in the Lok Sabha recently. In the subsequent year 2011-12, the loss further increased to Rs. 8,851 crores and dropped to Rs. 4,793 crores in 2016-17. In 2017-18, the loss reported by BSNL was Rs. 7,993 crores which increased to Rs.14,904 crores in 2018-19 (an increase of 86%) and further rose to Rs.15,500 crores in 2019-20 (increase in losses by 94% as compared to 2017-18).
As of 30 September 2020, BSNL has reported a loss of Rs. 3,607 crores (provisional). However, the expenditure in 2020-21 so far has been only Rs. 12,368 crores in contrast to an average expenditure of Rs. 35,500 crores in the previous years, largely on account of the reduction in the staff numbers following the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) by which nearly 50% workforce of BSNL and 75% of MTNL were reduced.
Similarly, MTNL has also faced continuous losses. From a loss of Rs. 2,802 crores in 2010-11, the loss increased to Rs. 5,321 crores in 2012-13, the highest reported loss so far during this decade. However, in 2013-14, MTNL reported a profit of Rs. 7,825 crores- the only time it reported a profit in this decade. Since then, MTNL has reported losses that have increased with each year. In 2015-16, MTNL’s loss was Rs. 2,006 crores which increased to Rs. 3,398 crores in 2018-19. Provisional statistics for 2020-21 up to 30 September 2020 reveal a loss of Rs. 1,220 crores for MTNL (for an expenditure of Rs. 2,111 crores).
The government in a recent press release mentioned that the reasons for better performance or reduction in losses in 2020-21 for both BSNL & MTNL include a sharp reduction in wage bill due to Voluntary Retirement Scheme. The government also stated that BSNL was able to maintain its revenue and cut down on other costs.
Poor performance of PSU because of employees lacking required skills
A parliamentary standing committee report of 2015 that reviewed the performance of BSNL & MTNL noted many reasons for the poor financial performance of these organizations. Among other reasons, one of the reasons cited for the poor performance is the skillset of employees. It was stated that the skills of the employees were not suited for rendering services to Mobile and Broadband customers which is quite different than that required for wireline services. The report also mentioned the decline in wirelines business, stiff competition in the mobile sector, legacy systems, and gap in sales & marketing as the reasons for the poor performance of these PSUs.
Revival plan worth Rs. 69,000 crores were approved by Union Cabinet in 2019
In October 2019, the Union Cabinet approved a revival package for BSNL and MTNL worth Rs. 69,000 crores. The plan includes measures to reduce the Staff cost through a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for employees of age 50 years and above, administrative allotment of Spectrum for providing 4G services with funding through budgetary allocation, monetisation of Land/Building and Tower/Fibre Assets to generate resources to retire debt, meet CAPEX and other requirements, debt restructuring by raising of Sovereign Guarantee Bonds and in-principle approval for the merger of BSNL and MTNL.
VRS offered for employees aged 50 years and above in BSNL and MTNL for reducing salary burden
Through the VRS option offered to the employees, both BSNL & MTNL aimed to reduce the number of employees that in turn would help reduce their yearly salary burden. Those opting for VRS are provided a lumpsum compensation along with an applicable pension. As per a press release of the government in January 2021, a total of 92,956 employees of both PSUs (BSNL – 78,569 and MTNL – 14,387) who opted for VRS have retired on 31 January 2020.
As a result of the VRS, the total number of employees under BSNL and MTNL have both reduced by 71% and 89% respectively compared to the numbers in 2014. As of 31 March 2014, BSNL had a total of 2.38 lakh employees including executives and non-executives. Over the years, the total number of employees reduced to reach nearly 1.67 lakhs in 2019 (as of 31 March 2019). As of 31 March 2020, the number of employees was just 69,824- a decline of over 58% in one year, because of the VRS. Likewise, the total number of employees under MTNL dropped from around 36,000 odd persons as of 31 March 2014 to about 21,000 as on the same day in 2019. As of 31 March 2020, the number of employees was only 4,185- a reduction of 81% in one year on account of the VRS.
The reduction in non-executive employees was more than their executive counterparts
The reduction in employees was more evident among non-executives than executives. Since 2014, the number of non-executive employees dropped by over 10,000 persons each year until 2019 while the number of executive employees did not show any such decreasing trend. In 2020 after the VRS, the number of executive employees dropped to two-thirds while the number of non-executives dropped to one-third of the numbers in 2019. In the case of MTNL employees, the numbers for both types have been declining over the years. However, in 2020 after VRS, the number of executive employees dropped by 68% while the number of non-executive employees dropped by 84% as compared to 2019.
Salary burden reduced by 50% in BSNL and 75% in MTNL
According to another Lok Sabha response provided on 10 March 2021, VRS has been successfully implemented in BSNL with a total of 78,569 employees opting for VRS. As a result, the salary expenditure of BSNL had reduced by approximately 50%. The salary expenditure had dropped by 75% in MTNL with 14,387 employees opting for VRS.
Government has allocated funds for 4G and expansion of BSNL’s services to MTNL circles
With respect to the other measures, the government has stated that it has made a fund allocation of Rs. 24,084 crores for 4G spectrum services for BSNL. It is also stated that BSNL has taken steps to monetise its core and non-core assets. In Phase-I, 4 (four) properties of BSNL have been identified for bidding through the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM).
Delhi and Mumbai circles are where the MTNL functions. On 21 December 2020, the government has also approved the allotment of spectrum to BSNL for Delhi and Mumbai for 4G services. This is a step towards merging the two PSUs which is one of the measures cited in the revival plan. But on 10 March 2020, the Minister of Communications stated that the plans to merge the two have been deferred due to financial reasons including the high debt of MTNL. However, close co-operation and service integration between BSNL and MTNL has been undertaken, as per the government’s statement.
BSNL’s performance has improved
Since the implementation of the revival plan, BSNL’s growth in income and ability to contain expenditure in salary, administrative, employee remuneration, and other benefits, has helped in growing EBITDA from minus Rs. 3596 crores for the half-year ended in September 2019 to positive Rs. 602 crores for the half-year ended in September 2020, which is a positive sign. EBITDA stands for ‘earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization’.
BSNL expected to become profitable in 2023-24
According to a Parliamentary Standing Committee report presented in March 2021, BSNL is expected to turn profitable from the financial year 2023-24 provided the measures under the revival plan are undertaken. Revenue growth has been hindered mainly due to the non-commencement of 4G services as per this report. With the commencement of 4G services by BSNL, the revenue of BSNL in the wireless segment is expected to increase. The committee also added that it was unfortunate to note that 4G services were yet to be commenced by BSNL when other private ‘Telecom Service Providers’ (TSPs) were preparing to roll out 5G services in the country and called for the allocation of 4G spectrum to BSNL without delay.  It is also reported that the government has identified several assets of BSNL & MTNL for sale in the next financial year starting April 2021.
Featured Image: BSNL & MTNL losses


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Data: Budget allocation for Mid-Day Meals & ICDS reduced in 2022-23
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 15, 2022
For more than 20 months now, the union government has been providing additional free ration to 80 crore beneficiaries of the NFSA to tide over the effect of the pandemic. While it has been spending increased amounts on NFSA, the allocations for Mid-Day meal schemes & ICDS have reduced considerably in 2022-23.
In the earlier story, we reviewed the Union government’s budget allocation for a few major central schemes – MGNREGA, NSAP & PM-KISAN, to understand the pre & post-pandemic trends. The government used these schemes to provide livelihood support & direct financial support to the marginalised sections of the population during the pandemic.
In this story, we review a few other major schemes providing support to marginalised sectors, especially around food security.
Actual Expenditure towards Food subsidy in 2020-21 was more than Rs. 5.41 lakh crores.
Provision of food grains under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) was one of the key support schemes initiated by the Union government to provide relief during the pandemic.  The scheme was part of the first set of measures announced by the government in March 2020 after the onset of the pandemic in the country.
The scheme was initially launched for the period April-June 2020, which was later extended multiple times. As per the latest announcement, the scheme is extended until March 2022. Under this scheme, additional 5 kgs of Rice/Wheat per month is provided free of cost to 80 crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries. The latest extension is the fifth phase of PMGKAY.
As per the latest update provided by the union government, during the four Phases, the total allocation of food grains to the States & UTs was almost 600 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT), which was worth Rs. 2.07 lakh crores.
During the fifth phase, i.e., December 2021 to March 2022, the estimated additional food subsidy is around Rs. 53.34 thousand crores for around 163 LMT.
The supply of the food grains to the states is done by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The union government subsidizes FCI on the cost incurred for the supply of food grains under NFSA. It must be noted that PMGKAY provided additional food grains during the pandemic, and the provision of subsidized foodgrains under NFSA was already in place.
As per the data provided in the 2022-23 budget, the actual expenditure on food subsidy to FCI during 2020-21 was Rs. 4.62 lakh crores. This is higher than the revised estimate of Rs. 3.44 lakh crores, which in turn is much higher than the budget estimate made before the pandemic for Rs. 77.9 thousand crores.
Although the scheme continued in 2021-22, the revised estimate for 2021-22 is around Rs. 2.10 lakh crores, as against the budget estimate of Rs. 2.02 lakh crores. For the upcoming financial year of 2022-23, the government has made a budget allocation of Rs. 1.45 lakh crores.
Apart from the subsidy to FCI, the government has also provided a subsidy for ‘Decentralized procurement of Foodgrains under NFSA’. The actual subsidy towards this for 2020-21, was Rs. 78.3 thousand crores. Overall, as per the information provided in the budget, the government has spent Rs. 5.41 lakh crores in 2020-21 towards food subsidy including on procurement.
Apart from the increased food subsidy in the wake of the pandemic, a major change was introduced in 2021-22 about how the food subsidy is represented in the budget. The FCI is mandated to procure food grains from the farmers. It stores them and distributes them at subsidized rates under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
The loss incurred by FCI in procurement & distribution was compensated to an extent through food subsidy and mostly through the borrowings from National Small Savings Fund (NSSF).
In the budget for 2020-21, the Government of India proposed the discontinuation of the NSSF loan to FCI and made provisions for the same in the Budget.
Since the government directly did not pay the amount to FCI prior to this change, the expenditure was underreported in the earlier budgets. From the budget of 2021-22, with the change in the accounting logic, the food subsidy to FCI is being reported as an expenditure of the government.
The actual expenditure on the Mid-Day meal scheme increased during 2020-21.
The Mid-Day Meal (MDM) scheme is aimed at providing nutritious food for School-age children. As per this scheme, nutritious cooked meals are served to the school children.  In September 2021, the scheme was renamed PM-POSHAN. This is a Centrally sponsored scheme and is expected to cover 11.8 crore children in 11. 2 lakh schools.
As specified, the scheme provides hot cooked meals to the children in the school premises to ensure the children get the required nutrition. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the closure of schools, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection. This posed a challenge in continuing the scheme with the children from marginalised sections of the population being deprived of nutritious food.
Responding to the situation, the government approved an additional expenditure of Rs. 1600 crores for the MDM scheme during the summer of 2020 and an ad-hoc grant of Rs. 2.5 thousand crores were issued for the first quarter.
One of the other initiatives provided food allowance to the students which comprise of grains, pulses, oils, etc. for both primary and upper primary students. The respective State governments employed different measures in ensuring the implementation of mid-day meals to the children.
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, etc were among the states that provided dry rations for the students. Karnataka utilised the Anganwadi system to distribute cooked meals to the students, while Bihar did a ‘Direct fund transfer’ to bank accounts of the parents of the children.
As per the union budget of 2022-23, the actual expenditure towards the MDM scheme in 2020-21 was Rs. 12.87 thousand crores as against Rs. 9.69 thousand crores in 2019-20. The initial budget estimate for 2020-21 was Rs.11 thousand crores, while was later revised to Rs. 12.9 thousand crores after the pandemic.
In 2021-22, Rs. 11.5 thousand crores were provided in the initial budget estimates which were later revised and reduced to Rs.10.23 thousand crores in the revised estimates. The trend over the years indicates that the actual expenditure for this scheme is always lower than the budget estimates.
Revised estimates less than the Budget estimates for ICDS scheme even during the Pandemic
The Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) is a centrally sponsored scheme that is implemented by State governments and UTs. The scheme provides supplementary nutrition, immunization, and pre-school education to children. This also includes extending nutritional benefits to expecting & lactating mothers through the Anganwadi set-up in the country. ICDS is now part of Mission Poshan 2.0 (Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0) and is an integrated nutrition support program.
Like the MDM scheme, ICDS was also disrupted due to the pandemic. Apart from hampering the activities carried out in the Anganwadis, the Anganwadi workers were required to support the government’s efforts to tackle COVID-19. This has further impacted the implementation of ICDS, and the critical support needed for children & mothers.
Some state governments including Odisha & Chhattisgarh have ensured the learning of the children in home environments. The beneficiaries of the various schemes under ICDS were provided with dry ration and cooking costs to ensure access to nutritious food during the closure of Anganwadis.
The government spent much less than the budget estimates of Rs. 28.56 thousand crores for 2020-21, which was later revised to Rs. 20.04 thousand crores. The actual expenditure in 2020-21 was even lower at Rs. 18.2 thousand crores.
For 2021-22, both the revised & budget estimates were lower than for 2020-21.  Unlike the other schemes, the allocation & actual expenditure was lower for ICDS even during the pandemic year.
We have considered Umbrella ICDS prior to 2021-22 and Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan from 2021-22 onwards.
Allocation for Food Security Schemes reduced for 2022-23
In view of the pandemic, the union government ramped up its efforts to provide food security to the marginalised sections of the society by providing additional food grains free of cost. Some state governments complemented these efforts by providing additional financial incentives, dry rations. This is reflected in the actual expenditure for 2020-21. However, the allocations have reduced considerably in the following years.
Considering the continued impact of the pandemic, and with research indicating that more families have been left poorer due to pandemics, it would have been prudent to spend more on these schemes which provide crucial nutritional support.
Featured Image: Budget allocation for Mid-Day Meals

created: February 15, 2022


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Budget estimates for MNREGA, NSAP & PM-KISAN reduced in 2022-23 after record allocation during COVID-19
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 12, 2022
Under the direct financial support schemes of the union government to the marginalized sections, the NSAP & PM-KISAN stand out. After record expenditure in 2020-21 on account of the pandemic, the budget allocation in 2022-23 was reduced to be more in line with pre-pandemic years. Even the allocation for MNREGA are reduced despite record spending in 2020-21 & 2021-22.
Expenditure incurred towards the implementation of the various schemes forms a major component of the overall budget expenditure of the Union Government. In every budget, the government estimates the expenditure for specific schemes for the financial year and makes allocations accordingly. Various factors could impact the implementation of the scheme and the actual expenditure incurred could sometimes be way off the budget estimates.
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 meant that the government had to provide support & relief to the people and the sectors affected by the pandemic. The Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP), Aatma Nirbhar Bharath Package, etc. were among the key COVID-19 relief and support measures announced by the Government of India.
The onset of the pandemic in India was after the 2020-21 budget was presented. Hence the expenditure towards the relief measures resulted in the actual expenditure for 2020-21 being way beyond the budget estimates for major schemes.
As part of the budget for  2022-23, the details of the actual expenditure incurred for the various schemes in 2020-21 were provided. The information on revised estimates for 2021-22, when the country has been hit by a severe second wave of COVID-19 was also provided in the budget. The government had to continue certain relief measures because of the ongoing pandemic while the other relief measures were more of a one-time initiative, the expenditure for which was accounted in 2020-21.
In this story, we look at the pre- & post-pandemic trend in estimated & expenditure for a few of the major central schemes that would help us understand the actual quantum of government spending during the pandemic. In this first part, we look at three specific schemes – MGNREGA, NSAP & PM KISAN, related to livelihood support and direct financial support to marginalized sections of the population during the pandemic. The data used for this story is actual expenditure from 2016-17 to 2020-21 and estimates for 2021-22 and 2022-23.
55% increase in the actual expenditure towards MGNREGA in 2020-21 compared to 2019-20
The loss of livelihoods during the pandemic and the ensuing return of the migrant workers to their native places resulted in the need for more work in Rural India. We had earlier written about how MGNREGA came to the rescue of Rural Employment during the pandemic.
During 2020-21, 389.1 crore person-days of work were generated compared to 265.32 crore person-days in 2019-20. This increase in the work provided under MGNREGA is evident in the expenditure for 2020-21.  The actual expenditure under the Scheme for 2020-21 was Rs. 111.17 thousand crores, whereas it was Rs. 71.69 thousand crores in 2019-20. The substantial increase in demand for work under MGNREGA due to the pandemic, was evident from the actual expenditure for 2020-21 as the budget estimate for MNREGA (2020-21) was only Rs. 61.5 thousand crores. In view of the increased demand during the pandemic, the revised Estimate was increased to Rs. 111.5 thousand crores, which was almost equal to the actual expenditure.
For 2021-22, the Government allocated Rs. 73 cores in the budget estimates for MNREGA. However, in view of the higher work demand even during 2021-22, the revised estimate was increased to Rs. 98 thousand crores. The total person-days of work as on date for 2021-22 around 309 crores.
In the case of MGNREGA, the actual expenditure has always been more than the initial estimates if one goes by the data from 2016-17. The pandemic has widened this gap further.
An exponential increase in the expenditure under NSAP during 2020-21
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities in the form of pensions.
For 2020-21, the initial budget estimate of the allocation under the different schemes of NSAP was Rs. 9.19 thousand crores.  However, the government extended direct financial support to the vulnerable sections of the society like the elderly & widows to tide over the financial problems during the lockdown. The revised estimate for 2020-21 was at Rs. 42.61 crores while the actual expenditure in 2020-21 stood at Rs. 42.44 thousand crores under NSAP.
The more than four-fold increase can be attributed to ‘Direct Bank Transfers’ to Women account holders of ‘Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana’ (PMJDY) under PM Garib Kalyan Package in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this initiative, a sum of Rs. 500 per month was transferred to women PMJDY account holders for three months.  As per the government’s latest update, Rs. 30.95 thousand crores were transferred to around 20.65 crores beneficiaries under this one-time initiative.
This disbursement was specific to the pandemic lockdown period in 2020-21 and was not extended. This is evident from budget estimates for both 2021-22 and 2022-23 which are back to the pre-pandemic levels. The revised estimates for 2021-22 is Rs. 8.73 thousand crores which are in line with the numbers for earlier years.
No additional support under the PM KISAN scheme during the pandemic
PM KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi) scheme is a flagship Central Sector Scheme, where-in eligible farmers get up to Rs.6000 per annum as direct financial support. The scheme is inspired by similar successful schemes in states like Telangana, Odisha, etc.
As part of the COVID-19 related Garib Kalyan Package, the government announced an up-front payment of Rs. 2000 to around 8.7 crore farmers. This payment as indicated, was an upfront payment and not an additional amount. There was no additional support extended to the farmers under this scheme. The initial budget allocation to the scheme in 2020-21was Rs. 60.9 thousand crores, higher than the Rs. 48.7 thousand crores in 2019-20.  However, this can be attributed to the gradual increase in the number of eligible farmers who were being brought into the scheme’s fold than any specific COVID-19 related support.
While the number of beneficiaries under the scheme is expected to increase, the budget allocation does not account for this anticipated increase. The initial budget estimated for 2021-22 was Rs. 65 thousand crores while the revised estimate was increased to Rs. 67.5 thousand crores. The budget estimate for 2022-23 is Rs. 68 thousand crores. The trend since the inception of the scheme has been that the actual expenditure is less than the initial budget estimates.
Despite MGNREGA & NSAP coming to the rescue, a decrease in the budget allocation
It is evident from the information available that the financial support under NSAP as well as the provision of work under MGNREGA came to the rescue of the marginalized during the pandemic. However, the budgetary allocation in 2021-22 and 2022-23 does not leverage these schemes to continue to aid the marginalized sections impacted by the pandemic. In 2021-22, the budget allocation under MNREGA was only Rs. 73 thousand crores while the actual expenditure in 2020-21 was Rs. 111.17 thousand crores. The same amount of Rs. 73 thousand crores are allocated as part of budget estimates in 2022-23 as well despite the revised estimates for 2021-22 being Rs. 98 thousand crores.
In the next story, we look at the budget allocation to other major schemes which provide support to the marginalized sections, especially around food security.

created: February 12, 2022