Rs 2.33 lakh crore allotted to ministry of home affairs, majority for police forces

NEW DELHI: The Union Budget 2025-26 has allocated Rs 2,33,210.68 crore to the ministry of home affairs (MHA), with a significant portion – Rs 1,60,391.06 crore – earmarked for central police forces, including the CRPF, BSF, and CISF, responsible for internal security, border guarding, and securing vital installations. This marks an increase from the previous year's allocation of Rs 2,19,643.31 crore.Among the major recipients, the CRPF has been allocated Rs 35,147.17 crore, an increase from Rs 34,328.61 crore in 2024-25. The BSF and CISF have been allotted Rs 28,231.27 crore and Rs 16,084.83 crore, respectively, while the ITBP, SSB, and Assam Rifles have also seen notable increases in their budgets.The budget allocation for Jammu and Kashmir, which became a union territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, stands at Rs 41,000.07 crore. Other regions receiving substantial funds include the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Rs 6,212.06 crore), Chandigarh (Rs 6,187.48 crore), and Ladakh (Rs 4,692.15 crore).While the MHA's budget reflects a focus on strengthening security, the allocation for the decadal Census, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remains low at Rs 574.80 crore. This further suggests a delay in the long-awaited exercise.Additionally, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been allocated Rs 3,893.35 crore, while the Delhi Police is set to receive Rs 11,931.66 crore. The Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for the Prime Minister’s security, has been allotted Rs 489 crore.Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir Police, now under direct central control, will receive Rs 9,325.73 crore, up from Rs 8,665.94 crore in 2024-25.The budget also includes several initiatives, such as Rs 5,597.25 crore for Border Infrastructure and Management, Rs 4,379.20 crore for developing police infrastructure, and Rs 960.12 crore for women’s safety schemes. Furthermore, Rs 12,491.17 crore has been allocated for various central sector projects under the MHA.The Modernisation of Police Forces has been given Rs 4,069.24 crore, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will receive Rs 1,922.59 crore. Other allocations include Rs 1,056.40 crore for the Vibrant Villages Programme and Rs 215.34 crore for the Safe City Project.The budget also includes grants for state governments (Rs 3,494.39 crore) and Union Territory governments (Rs 1,515.02 crore), with a capital outlay of Rs 810 crore for the northeastern area.