Politics · India Bureau
PM CARES Fund receives ₹480 crore in donations; spending remains minimal
The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund saw donations surge nearly sixfold in the 2024-25 fiscal year, yet expended just a fraction of incoming funds. Since its establishment in March 2020, the fund has distributed less than one-fifth of cumulative receipts.
LSN India ·
The PM CARES Fund recorded a significant uptick in donor contributions during 2024-25, receiving ₹480 crore—a 592 percent increase from the previous year. However, expenditures during the same period remained considerably lower, with the fund spending just 0.1 percent of funds received in that fiscal year alone.
Cumulative data since the fund's inception in March 2020 reveals a wider spending pattern. Through March 31, 2025, the PM CARES Fund has accumulated total income but dispersed only 18.7 percent of that amount, leaving the majority of corpus unspent.
The fund was established as a dedicated vehicle for accepting public contributions to support relief and rehabilitation efforts during emergencies and disasters. Its financial trajectory—marked by substantial inflows but measured outflows—has periodically drawn scrutiny regarding fund utilization and deployment strategies.
The significant donation increase in 2024-25 comes amid ongoing economic activity and renewed public engagement with various national initiatives. Fund administrators have maintained that resources are deployed according to prioritized needs assessments and disbursement protocols established for ensuring effective allocation across designated relief categories.