Finance ministry seeks explanation from others on underspent funds

Among the bigger ministries, telecom and power have badly underspent: Sources

The finance ministry, which has begun pre-Budget preparations and is finalising revised estimates for 2017-18 after discussions with various ministries, has asked departments which have underspent for an explanation. These departments may not receive additional sums in the upcoming winter session supplementary demand for grants, and their budgetary allocations for 2018-19 may also be affected.

Among the bigger ministries, telecom and power have badly underspent, Business Standard has learnt from senior government sources. While the Centre’s April-September total expenditure was Rs 11.5 lakh crore, about 54 per cent of the full-year budgeted estimates of Rs 21.46 lakh crore, the telecom and