What the union budget pays for

Every rupee the union government spent in 2025–26, ₹49,64,842 crore, sorted into 11 categories by what it paid for. Each category is the sum of the budget lines inside it; nothing here carries a total of its own.

• Interest and debt service Interest payments and the servicing of public debt from previous borrowing. It is usually the second largest thing the union spends on, and it is a legally committed charge rather than a discretionary programme. ₹12.7 lakh cr
• Defence and security The armed forces, defence pensions and production, home affairs, police and border management. ₹9.02 lakh cr
• Transport, housing and infrastructure Railways, roads, ports, civil aviation, telecommunications, housing and urban development. ₹6.80 lakh cr
• Agriculture and rural development Farming, irrigation, fisheries, food processing, and programmes aimed at rural livelihoods. ₹5.06 lakh cr
• Health and social protection Health and family welfare, pharmaceuticals, women and child development, social justice and tribal affairs. ₹4.83 lakh cr
• Grants to states and union territories Union grants to state governments and the budgets of the union territories — Finance Commission grants, special assistance and territory administration. Not the states’ constitutional share of taxes, which is deducted earlier and sits outside this budget. ₹4.32 lakh cr
• Energy, industry and the economy Power, petroleum, coal, mines, heavy industry, commerce, corporate affairs and financial services. ₹3.06 lakh cr
• Government and public administration The central machinery of government: the legislature, judiciary, tax administration, external affairs and general services. ₹1.89 lakh cr
• Education, skills and research School and higher education, skill development, and scientific and industrial research. ₹1.77 lakh cr
• Culture, media and sport Arts and heritage, broadcasting and information, tourism, youth affairs and sport. ₹11,000 cr
• Environment and climate Environment, forests and climate change, earth sciences, and new and renewable energy. ₹3,000 cr

The same money, another way

By the ministry that spent it · Year by year · Every budget line