The papers did not show how much of this request would finally raise overall government spending. In earlier years, part of such supplementary demands for grants has been met through savings within ministry allocations, rather than adding to total expenditure.
The winter session of the parliament commenced on December 1. Along with the key Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, which aims to set rules for the use and regulation of atomic energy in India, the government has listed the Higher Education Commission of India Bill and eight other draft laws for the session. Parliament will meet for 15 sittings to take up these proposals.
India’s fiscal deficit for April to October, the first seven months of this financial year, stood at ₹8.25 lakh crore. This is 52.6% of the full-year estimate and higher than the 46.5% recorded a year earlier. The government plans to reduce the deficit to 4.4% of GDP this year, compared with 4.8% in the previous year.
