The NDA government’s focus on internal security was reflected in the interim budget, with the allocation for the
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore for the first time.
Interim finance minister allocated Rs 1,03,927 crore to the MHA, Rs 10,477 crore more than that for the previous year. The revised estimates for 2018-19 pegged the MHA’s expenditure at Rs 99,034 crore.
The allocation for improving police infrastructure went up to Rs 5,117 crore from Rs 4,750 crore, continuing the emphasis seen in the previous year.
Similarly, the
budgetary allocation under the sub-head of ‘Mission for Protection and Empowerment for Women’ increased to Rs 1,330 crore from previous year’s revised budgetary estimate of Rs 1,156 crore, which marked a slippage from the budgetary estimate of Rs 1,366 crore.
On the other hand, the allocation for border infrastructure and management was a shade lower, at Rs 2,000 crore, from previous year’s revised estimate of Rs 2,001 crore.