PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Spending Hits 5-Year Low of ₹87.85 Lakh

PM CARES Fund: Donations Fall to ₹479.96 Cr, Balance Hits Record ₹8,452 Cr; No Questions in Lok Sabha

PM CARES Fund, a public charitable trust set up in 2020 for COVID-19 relief, saw donations plunge to ₹479.96 crore in FY2024-25 while its closing balance hit a record ₹8,452.06 crore. Spending fell to a five-year low of ₹87.85 lakh. The PMO has informed Lok Sabha that questions on PM CARES, PMNRF, and NDF are not admissible under parliamentary rules as they are funded by voluntary contributions, not from the Consolidated Fund of India.

PM CARES Fund Donations Surge 592% to ₹480 Crore, Only 0.1% Spent in FY 2024-25

PM CARES Fund received ₹480 crore in donations during 2024-25 – a 592% jump – yet spent only 0.1% of its income. Activists question the fund's transparency as it remains outside RTI and CAG audit, with a closing balance of ₹8,452 crore. This raises serious concerns about accountability of public charitable trusts.

SC Dismisses Plea to Abolish Hanging; PM CARES Fund Donations Jump 592% to ₹480 Crore in 2024-25

Today's news highlights key developments for exam aspirants: the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of execution by hanging but left the door open for a government review; the PM CARES Fund disclosed a massive 592% jump in donations to ₹480 crore but spent only 0.1% of it; and the SC sought a government response on a standardized probe for paper leak cases. These stories cover constitutional law, transparency in public charities, and governance reforms.

₹1,700 Cr Donations to 6 RUPPs: Need for De-Registration Powers to EC

An investigation revealed that six Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) in Gujarat received ₹1,700 crore in donations in 2023-24, exceeding the combined donations of all national parties except the BJP. This highlights regulatory gaps that allow RUPPs to be used as conduits for tax evasion and money laundering. The article examines the need for the Election Commission to have de-registration powers and suggests a vote threshold for tax exemptions to curb misuse.

ECI Delists 334 RUPPs; ₹11,813 Cr Tax Exemption Lost on Political Donations – Need for CAG Audit

Political parties in India enjoy unprecedented tax exemptions and opacity in donations. A recent BBC investigation and ADR report reveal that Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPPs) received huge donations without contesting elections. The exchequer lost ₹11,813 crore in taxes over a decade. The Election Commission lacks power to deregister shell parties, and the author calls for mandatory CAG audit, expenditure limits, and a digital portal for financial transparency.

SC Upholds NCLAT Order Setting Aside CCI's ₹301.6 Cr Penalty on Grasim

The Supreme Court upheld the NCLAT order setting aside CCI's ₹301.6 crore penalty on Grasim Industries for alleged abuse of dominance in the viscose staple fibre market. The Court affirmed that CCI violated natural justice by not providing a hearing after differing from the Director General's findings.

Rajya Sabha Passes NCDC (Amendment) Bill 2026 Expanding Direct Loans to Cooperatives

Rajya Sabha passed the NCDC (Amendment) Bill 2026, empowering the National Cooperative Development Corporation to give loans and grants directly to cooperative societies. The bill also expands the definition of foodstuffs to include processed food, marking a structural shift in cooperative sector financing. For exam aspirants, this is significant for both Polity (bill passage process, federalism debate) and Economy (cooperative credit, role of NCDC).

UPSC Key: 14 Internal EC Dissents, Tarang Shakti-26 Multinational Exercise, and AI-Driven Semiconductor Supercycle

This Indian Express 'UPSC Key' compilation covers six critical topics: unprecedented internal dissent within the Election Commission (14 objections in 10 months), the second edition of India's largest multinational air exercise Tarang Shakti-26, the Supreme Court's reaffirmation of the Bijoe Emmanuel precedent on Vande Mataram, a new Centre scheme for lithium and nickel processing, the evolution of Yemen's Houthis from a local revivalist movement to a Red Sea power, and the global semiconductor 'supercycle' driven by AI demand. Each story is mapped to UPSC syllabus with previous year questions.