Allocations for PM Awas hiked, NREGA slashed 32%

The Modi government, which counts beneficiaries of welfare schemes among its key supporters, sought to reassure the marginalised sections of society and farmers with its last budget before the 2024 general elections, which will be preceded by nine state elections.

The PM Awas scheme, the government's flagship housing scheme for the poor, saw an increase in outlay to ₹79,590 crore from ₹77,130 crore spent in 2022-23. The government will seek to expand the list of beneficiaries under the scheme. About 28.3 million houses have been sanctioned under the scheme till date in rural areas, reaching 96% of the target set by the rural development ministry.

The allocation under the government's flagship rural jobs scheme, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, has been slashed 32% to ₹60,000 crore from the revised estimate of ₹89,400 crore for 2022-23.