The Lok Sabha on Friday approved the third and final batch of Supplementary Demand for Grants for 2010-11, involving a gross additional spend of Rs 79,590 crore including a net cash outgo of Rs 68,918 crore.

The approval came through a voice vote soon after the Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, gave his reply to the discussions on the general Budget for 2011-12.

The Lower House also passed the relevant appropriation Bill to authorise the withdrawal of funds from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

With the Finance Minister's reply, the first stage of the Budget for 2011-12 has been completed.

The main items of additional cash spend in the third batch of supplementary demand for grants related to fuel subsidy (Rs 21,000 crore), fertiliser subsidy (Rs 8,000 crore), food subsidy (Rs 3,972 crore), defence pension of Rs 9,000 crore and short-term loan of Rs 5,000 crore to the Food Corporation of India.

In view of the upcoming assembly polls in five States, the Government has decided to curtail the Budget session of Parliament to March 25. The entire budgetary exercise including passage of demands for grants, relevant appropriation Bills and Finance Bill 2011 is proposed to be completed by March 24.

As regards the demand for grants for 2011-12, the Lok Sabha will next week discuss allocations for four ministries of Rural Development, External Affairs, Mines and Road Transport and Highways.

In Rajya Sabha, discussions will take place on the demands for grants of Ministries of Tribal Affairs, Minorities Affairs, Defence and Civil Aviation.

Lok Sabha will apply guillotine on the demands of other ministries on March 17. The Finance Bill will be taken up for discussion by the Lower House on March 21 and 22.

> krsrivats@thehindu.co.in

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