Eco Survey Highlights: Subsidies

• To increase by Rs 6550 cr over BE
• Budget estimate was Rs 51,247 cr
• Glosses over off-budget subsidies

Subsidies this year are expected to increase by 6,550 crore over the budget estimate of Rs 51,247 crore.

This might arrest their decline as a percentage of GDP. The survey glosses over off-budget subsidies given in the form of bonds to oil marketing companies, fertiliser units and the Food Corporation of India.

It also makes the usual noises about governance issues, leakages and impact on prices.