The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has recorded its highest-ever expenditure in a financial year, spending ₹11,810.82 crore in FY 2025–26, Union Minister Virendra Kumar said on Saturday.
The expenditure marks an increase of nearly 14 per cent compared to ₹10,409 crore spent in FY 2024-25, reflecting the government’s emphasis on timely utilisation of funds for welfare programmes.
According to the ministry, the financial year also witnessed the highest-ever spending on schemes aimed at the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), signalling a continued focus on uplifting socially disadvantaged groups.
In addition to SC and OBC welfare, record allocations were utilised across several key sectors, including drug demand reduction, welfare of sanitation workers, senior citizens, transgender persons and individuals engaged in beggary.
The ministry said the increased expenditure underscores the government’s commitment to advancing social justice, empowerment and inclusive development by strengthening support systems for vulnerable sections of society.
