Huge Donations to PM CARES Fund

The PM CARES Fund had ₹8,452 crore at the end of the 2024-25 financial year, according to an audit report completed on August 7. Of the total balance, ₹605 crore was held in scheduled bank savings accounts and ₹7,847 crore in fixed deposits. The fund’s balance increased by ₹1,279 crore from ₹7,173 crore at the end of 2023-24. During 2024-25, it received ₹479 crore in domestic donations, ₹92 lakh in foreign contributions, ₹5.76 crore as savings account interest, ₹469 crore as interest on fixed deposits and ₹324 crore through refunds. Expenditure during the year stood at only ₹87.85 lakh.

In 2023-24, the fund received total income of ₹903 crore through domestic and foreign donations, interest and refunds. It spent ₹15.37 crore under the children’s scheme and ₹22.43 lakh on bank and SMS charges. Over the past six years, the PM CARES Fund received total income of ₹16,600 crore and spent ₹8,148 crore, leaving a net balance of ₹8,452 crore. The fund was registered as a public charitable trust on March 27, 2020, to provide assistance during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also used to support children who lost their parents during the pandemic.