Union Budget provides less for food and fertiliser subsidies

The petroleum subsidy is pegged at Rs 5,813 crore, which is 11 per cent less

The food and fertiliser subsidies saw a big reduction in 2022-23 (FY23), compared to their Revised Estimates (RE) of 2021-22 (FY22), which indicates a likely discontinuation of the free food programme in the next fiscal year unless there is a fresh Covid shock and some easing of international fertiliser prices, according to the government’s assessment. 

The Budget Estimates of food subsidy in FY23 has been pegged at Rs 2.06 trillion, which is 25 per cent less than the RE of FY22, while fertiliser subsidy is pegged at Rs 1.05 trillion, which is 28 per cent less than the RE of FY22. 

The