Centre has taken care of Kashmir’s financial needs: Nirmala Sitharaman
Responding to a demand for greater financial assistance to Jammu and Kashmir, the Finance Minister said the Union government bears the entire salary and pension of Jammu and Kashmir Police, amounting to approximately ₹13,000 crore annually
The Rajya Sabha on Thursday, August 6, 2026, deliberated and approved the Appropriation Bill, 2026, allocating around ₹54,067 crore for expenditure incurred during the 2022-23 financial year. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed the Bill during a brief discussion, highlighting that the excess expenditure had been reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The excess demand of ₹196.44 crore was attributed to a court order concerning the Ministry of Railways, while the larger demand of ₹53,871 crore was for debt repayment. When asked about financial assistance to Jammu and Kashmir, Sitharaman clarified that the Union government shoulders the complete salary and pension of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, valued at approximately ₹13,000 crore annually.
She also mentioned the repayment of Ladakh's debt and the provision of an additional ₹5,000 crore each year for 2024-25 and 2025-26 to ensure the J&K administration's urgent requirements are met. The House experienced disruptions, leading to an hour-long adjournment when the Opposition walked out, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's presence to apologize for the police actions against protesting students.
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