An allocation of Rs 1,31,317 crore has been made in the Interim Budget 2009-10 for the flagship programmes which directly impact the "aam aadmi".
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said an allocation of Rs 30,100 crore has been made to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in 2009-10.
The Scheme has been extended to all the districts of the country and provided employment of 138.76 crore person days, covering 3.51 crore households during 2008-09.
For Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, an allocation of Rs 13,100 crore has been proposed. Mukherjee said that about 98 per cent of the habitations in the country have been covered by primary schools.
The increased allocation this year would include Rs 54,824 crore for capital expenditure as against Rs 41,000 crore in the revised estimates for 2008-09, Mukherjee said.
However, the government would provide for any additional requirement for the security of the nation, he added.
The increased allocation for defence assumes significance as the government has decided to go on fast track acquisition of defence equipment.
The armed forces have already prepared a long list of equipment, mainly for its special forces commandos, to be bought under the fast track process.
After the Mumbai attacks, the government has initiated a massive revamp of the security structure of the country, which includes creation of a Coastal Command.
Despite the nearly 35 per cent increase this year, India's defence spending is still at about 2 per cent of the GDP, compared to China's 7 per cent and Pakistan's 5 per cent.
