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PM CARES Fund corpus reaches ₹8,452 crore amid spending scrutiny
Newly released audited statements for the PM CARES Fund have sparked significant political and social debate regarding transparency and fund utilization. As of March 31, 2025, the fund's corpus reached a record ₹8,452.06 crore, a 17.8% increase from the previous year. However, critics have pointed out that during the 2024-25 financial year, the fund spent only ₹87.85 lakh, representing approximately 0.01% of its total balance.
The majority of the corpus, roughly ₹7,846 crore, is currently held in fixed deposits, while ₹605 crore remains in savings accounts. The fund earned approximately ₹475 crore in interest during the year, which nearly offset the decline in domestic donations, which fell by 30% to ₹479.05 crore.
Opposition leaders and activists have raised concerns over the fund's lack of accountability, noting it is not subject to standard Right to Information (RTI) scrutiny or CAG audits. Critics have questioned why an emergency relief fund is accumulating massive reserves while being used minimally, with some suggesting it functions more like a savings scheme than a disaster relief mechanism. Conversely, supporters argue the fund is a specialized instrument designed for future emergencies and that claims of opacity are politically motivated.
Entities
Government of India · India · Mallikarjun Kharge · Narendra Modi · PM CARES Fund
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The fund's closing balance was Rs 8,452.06 crore as of March 31, 2025. www.insightsonindia.com · news.abplive.com · www.newsx.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The fund earned approximately Rs 475 crore in interest during the year. www.newsx.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Of the total expenditure, Rs 87.84 lakh was allocated to the PM CARES for Children Scheme. www.newsx.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rs 7,846.65 crore was held in fixed deposits and Rs 605.41 crore in savings accounts. www.newsx.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The PM CARES Fund released audited statements for FY 2023-24 and 2024-25. www.insightsonindia.com · news.abplive.com · www.newsx.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Domestic contributions fell 30% to approximately Rs 479 crore in FY 2024-25. news.abplive.com · www.newsx.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Foreign donations totaled Rs 92.83 lakh in FY 2024-25. news.abplive.com · www.newsx.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Total expenditure for the 2024-25 financial year was Rs 87.85 lakh. www.insightsonindia.com · www.newsx.com