Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman disclosed to the Lok Sabha that India currently possesses a substantial fertiliser stock of 163 lakh metric tonnes for April, marking a notable 26% increase from the previous year’s stock of 128.54 LMT. The Minister assured that there are ample stocks available for the Kharif season, with preparations underway for the upcoming Rabi season through supplementary demands. Sitharaman emphasized the government’s focus on enhancing domestic manufacturing and balancing necessary imports, citing a rise in domestic urea production from 225 LMT in 2014-15 to 306.67 LMT in 2024-25.
The Lok Sabha approved the second batch of supplementary demands for grants, allowing the government to allocate an additional Rs 2.01 lakh crore in the current financial year. The government’s request for spending on various sectors includes setting up an Economic Stabilisation Fund of Rs 1 lakh crore, additional funds for fertiliser subsidies, and subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). Notably, there is no anticipated increase in expenditure beyond the Budget Estimate of 2025-26 due to the second supplementary demand for grants, ensuring that the fiscal deficit remains within the government’s target.
