The Union government may allocate 2.2 trillion towards food subsidy in the forthcoming budget to pay for higher farm support prices and an extended free food scheme, a top official said. The allocation, which could be 10% higher than last year's, would be at a time the government is focused on ensuring food security and keeping food inflation in check.
While the food subsidy allocation for 2023-24 was 1.97 trillion, the outgo in the current fiscal has already crossed 2 trillion, Union food and public distribution department's secretary Sanjeev Chopra said. "Right now, the food subsidy is ₹2 trillion," Chopra said in an interview.
"I think there may be a 10% increase in the total food subsidy bill next year", considering the hike in minimum support price (MSP), extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) and other costs involved.
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