Food bill to be passed in Budget Session: Government

NEW DELHI: The government on Friday assured the Supreme Court that the Food Security Bill will be passed in the budget session of parliament, saying it cannot in the interim raise its expenditure on food subsidies.

“Implementation of provisions of the national Food Security Bill entail an additional financial implication on the central government of Rs 23,000 crore on account of food subsidy. The final… subsidy may vary depending upon the final shape of the Bill as approved by parliament,” Attorney General GE Vahanvati told a two-judge bench to stave off any order asking the government to hike subsidized food allocations to states.