PM CARES Fund balance rises to Rs 8,452 crore as domestic donations fall 30%

The PM CARES Fund received domestic donations of approximately Rs 479 crore in FY 2024-25, marking a 30% decline from the previous year, according to the fund's latest audit report. Foreign contributions also dropped by 18% to Rs 92.8 lakh during the same period. Despite the fall in inflows, the fund's total balance grew from Rs 7,173 crore to Rs 8,452 crore as of March 31, 2025. The rising corpus amid declining donations has drawn criticism from the Congress party, which questioned the government over the fund's limited utilisation. The opposition's remarks highlight ongoing scrutiny over the transparency and deployment of the relief fund.