Parliament Passes Appropriation Bill 2026

On 17th March 2026, Parliament passed the Appropriation Bill 2026, with the Rajya Sabha returning it to the Lok Sabha after discussion. The Lok Sabha had already approved the Bill.

Key Points

Purpose of the Bill: The Bill authorises the withdrawal of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for government expenditure for the financial year 2025-26.
Parliamentary Approval: The Appropriation Bill was passed after approval by both Houses of Parliament, completing the budgetary process.
Economic Stabilisation Fund: The government has allocated over ₹57,381 crore for the Economic Stabilisation Fund.
Transparent Budgeting: The Finance Minister stated that the government’s budgeting process is transparent and based on realistic assumptions.
Growth of Capital Expenditure: The central government’s capital outlay has increased from ₹2.63 lakh crore in 2017-18 to ₹12.20 lakh crore in 2026-27, reflecting a significant rise in public investment.
Economic Momentum: Increased capital expenditure has contributed to economic recovery and sustained growth momentum.
Power Sector Strength: Improvements in the power sector have supported initiatives like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and enhanced energy sufficiency.
LPG Capacity Expansion: The government’s efforts to increase domestic LPG production capacity are contributing to energy security.