MHA gets 24.56% hike, most funds for paramilitary forces

The Home Ministry has been allocated over Rs 77,000 crore in 2016-17 Budget, a hike of 24.56 per cent, majority of which have been earmarked for paramilitary forces like CRPF and BSF, responsible for internal security and border guarding duties.

Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced an outlay of Rs 77,383.12 crore to the Home Ministry, of which Rs 67,408.12 crore is under non-plan and Rs 9,975 crore under plan heads.

In the 2015-16 Budget, the Home Ministry was allocated Rs 62,124.52 crore. In the 2016-17 Budget, a total of Rs 50,176.45 crore has been allocated to seven paramilitary forces. Among these forces, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), deployed for internal security, action against Maoists and operations against militants, has been earmarked the highest at Rs 16,228.18 crore.

The Border security Force (BSF), which guards Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders, will get Rs 14,652.90 crore, while CISF, responsible for security of country’s airports, nuclear installation, key government buildings and private entities like Infosys, has been allocated Rs 6,067.13 crore. Indo-Tibetan Border Police, tasked with protecting the Sino-Indian border, has got an outlay of Rs 4,231.04 crore.