The PM CARES Fund has reached a total corpus of ₹8,452 crore as of March 2025. The latest audit reveals that 93% of these funds are held in Fixed Deposits, with interest income nearly matching new donations.
- The PM CARES Fund corpus grew to ₹8,452 crore by the end of March 2025.
- Approximately 93% of the total funds (₹7,846.65 crore) are held in Fixed Deposits (FDs).
- Total expenditure during the 2024-25 financial year was only ₹87.85 lakh.
- Interest earned on deposits nearly equaled the amount received in fresh donations.
The latest audit statement for the PM CARES Fund has revealed a massive accumulation of wealth, with the total corpus reaching ₹8,452 crore by March 2025. The audit, which was released with a one-year delay, highlights that a staggering 93% of the fund is currently parked in Fixed Deposits (FDs).
According to the official disclosure, out of the closing balance of ₹8,452.06 crore, ₹7,846.65 crore was held in FDs. The remainder was maintained as cash in scheduled banks. A notable financial trend observed is that the interest earned from these deposits in the 2024-25 fiscal year—amounting to approximately ₹475 crore—was almost equal to the total fresh donations received during the same period.
Why This Matters
BozokMedia analysis shows that while the fund's capital is growing exponentially, its actual utilization for relief purposes remains remarkably low. Despite being established to address public health emergencies and natural disasters, the fund spent only ₹87.85 lakh during the entire 2024-25 financial year. This creates a significant gap between the fund's stated purpose and its operational activity.
The discrepancy between massive capital accumulation and minimal expenditure raises critical questions regarding the fund's role in immediate disaster relief.
The audit also highlighted a significant entry of ₹324.66 crore listed as "Refund from Implementing Agencies." This figure is significantly higher than the previous year's refund. However, the one-page audit statement lacks granularity, failing to specify which agencies—such as DRDO or NHAI—returned the money or the original purpose of those funds.
| Financial Metric | Value (in ₹) |
|---|---|
| Total Closing Balance | 8,452 Crore |
| Amount in Fixed Deposits | 7,846.65 Crore |
| Annual Expenditure | 87.85 Lakh |
| Interest Income | ~475 Crore |
Established in 2020 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COVID-19 pandemic, PM CARES is a public charitable trust. Its objectives include responding to public health emergencies, upgrading healthcare infrastructure, and providing financial assistance to disaster victims. However, transparency activists like Anjali Bhardwaj have frequently criticized the fund's lack of detailed disclosure regarding its utilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the main objective of the PM CARES Fund?
The fund aims to provide relief and assistance during public health emergencies, natural disasters, or man-made calamities.
2. Why is the fund being criticized?
Critics point to the low rate of expenditure compared to the massive corpus and the lack of detailed transparency in the audit reports.
