Who's Paying For It? Budget Allocation Reveals Jaw-Dropping Spends on Ministers' Salaries and VVIP Perks

New Delhi, Feb 16 (ANI): In a bombshell that sheds light on the lavish lifestyle of India's top bureaucrats, the Union Budget for 2025-26 has revealed some astonishing expenditures.

According to the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Saturday, the Council of Ministers, the Cabinet Secretariat, and the Prime Minister's Office have been allocated a whopping Rs 1,024.30 crore for hospitality and entertainment expenses of state guests and other perks like travel allowances.

Ministers will receive salaries worth Rs 619.04 crore, up from Rs 540.95 crore in the previous year, along with some 'sumptuary allowances'. Additionally, they will also get a special allowance to cover extra session flight operations. The total amount for this entitlement is not less than what was allocated in the current fiscal.

Furthermore, a huge allocation of Rs 70.12 crores has been made for office salaries of the Principal Scientific Adviser with some discrepancy compared to previous years' figures.

The National Security Council Secretariat and the Prime Minister's Office have also received hefty allocations worth Rs 182.75 crore and Rs 70.91 crore respectively, which includes administration charges for National Research Foundation.

A total of four crores has been reserved for hospitality expenses of foreign state guests as well as reception on national days.