Rs 1,102 cr allocated in Budget for ministers' salaries, entertainment of state guests, ex-governors

The Union Budget 2026-27 has allocated Rs 1,102 crore for expenses incurred by the Council of Ministers, the Cabinet Secretariat, the Prime Minister's Office, and for hospitality and entertainment of state guests.

The amount is higher than the revised estimate of Rs 978.20 crore allocated in 2025-26.

In the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Lok Sabha on Sunday, Rs 620 crore has been allotted for the expenses of the Council of Ministers in the coming fiscal. It was Rs 483.54 crore in 2025-26.

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 256.19 crore for 2026-27, against Rs 279.74 crore for 2025-26. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses and space programme of the National Security Council Secretariat.

Up to Rs 65 crore has been allotted to the office of the Principal Scientific Advisor as against Rs 61.32 crore for 2025-26. The provision is for meeting the administrative expenses of the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor and the National Research Foundation.

The Cabinet Secretariat has been allocated Rs 80 crore in the budget, against Rs 78 crore given in 2025-26, to meet its administrative expenses and those of the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention (NACWC).

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has been allocated Rs 73.52 crore for the coming fiscal against the allocation of Rs 68 crore in 2025-26 for meeting administrative expenses of the high office.

The Budget also allotted Rs 5.76 crore for hospitality and entertainment expenses in 2026-27. In 2025-26, the allocation was Rs 6.20 crore. 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 also allocated Rs 1.53 crore for expenditure on payments of secretariat assistance to former governors. The allocation was Rs 1.40 crore in 2025-26.