Budget: Rs 1249 crore for salaries of union ministers, entertainment of guests, ex-governors
New Delhi (PTI): The interim budget 2024-25 on Thursday allocated Rs 1,248.91 for the expenses incurred by the council of ministers, cabinet secretariat, prime minister's office, and on hospitality and entertainment of State guests.
The allocated amount is substantially lower than Rs 1803.01 crore earmarked in 2023-24.
A total of Rs 832.81 crore has been given for the expenses of council of ministers (Rs 1289.28 crore in 2023-24).
The provision is for expenditure on salaries, sumptuary and other allowances and travel by cabinet ministers, ministers of state and ex-prime ministers. This also includes provision for special extra session flight operations for VVIPs.
The National Security Council Secretariat has been allocated Rs 200 crore (Rs 299.30 crore in 2023-24).
The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses and space programme of the National Security Council Secretariat.
As much as Rs 76.20 crore has been given to the office of principal scientific advisor (Rs 75 crore in 2023-24). The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses of the office of principal scientific advisor and national research foundation.
The cabinet secretariat has been allocated Rs 70 crore (Rs 70.28 crore in 2023-24) for meeting the administrative expenses those of the Chemical Weapons Convention(CWC).
The prime minister's office has been allocated Rs 65.30 crore (Rs 62.65 crore in 2023-24) for meeting the administrative expenses.
The budget has given Rs 4 crore for hospitality and entertainment expenses (Rs 4 crore in 2023-24).
This provision is for expenditure on government hospitality and entertainment of foreign state guests, official entertainment arranged at Rashtrapati Bhawan on behalf of the vice president and prime minister, reception on national days, investiture and ceremonies for presentation of credentials, etc.
The budget allocated Rs 1.80 crore for secretariat assistance to former governors (Rs 1.30 crore in 2023-24). This provision is for expenditure on payments of secretariat assistance to ex-governors.
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India describes attack on Fujairah 'unacceptable'
New Delhi (PTI): India on Tuesday described the wounding of three Indians in an attack on the United Arab Emirates' port city of Fujairah as "unacceptable" and pressed for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting innocent civilians.
New Delhi's reaction came a day after the Indians were injured after a drone attack caused a fire at a major oil industry zone in Fujairah. The UAE had accused Iran of carrying out the strike.
"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
"We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians," the spokesperson said.
Jaiswal said India continued to stand for dialogue and diplomacy to deal with the situation so that peace and stability could be restored across West Asia.
"We also call for free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law. India stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues," he said.
The attack on Fujairah city came as the ceasefire between the US and Iran came under strain in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas pass, remains a major sticking point in the talks. Shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway has been severely disrupted by the conflict, triggering a sharp increase in oil prices and energy shortages in several countries.
The UAE's defence ministry on Monday said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran.
The ministry affirmed that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
