New Delhi: The Union Budget allocated Tuesday Rs 1,711.04 crore for a host of expenditure of the Union Cabinet. The amount includes salaries, sumptuary and travel by central ministers and entertainment of foreign state guests among others. The amount includes expenditure for the Prime Minister’s Office, National Security Council Secretariat, Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor and Secretariat Assistance to former governors. The bulk of the allocation, Rs 1,045 crore, has been earmarked for Council of Ministers.
The provision is for expenditure on salaries, sumptuary and other allowances and travel by cabinet ministers, ministers of state and former prime ministers. This also includes provision for special extra session flight operations for VVIPs.
An amount of Rs 300 crore has been allocated for the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses of Office of Principal Scientific Advisor and National Research Foundation.
A sum of Rs 232.71 crore has been allocated to the National Security Council Secretariat. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses of National Security Council Secretariat.
Similarly Rs 66.70 crore has been earmarked for Cabinet Secretariat. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses of Cabinet Secretariat and Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The PMO has been allocated Rs 58.15 crore for meeting the administrative expenses while Rs 6.09 crore has been earmarked for hospitality and entertainment expenses.
The provision is for expenditure on government hospitality and entertainment of foreign state guests, official entertainment arranged at Rashtrapati Bhawan on behalf of the Vice-President and Prime Minister, reception on National Days, investiture and ceremonies for presentation of credentials, etc.
An amount of Rs 1.8 crore has also been allocated for secretariat assistance to former governors.