Parliament Question: Corporate Tax Concessions and Welfare Allocations

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2613 TO BE ANSWERED ON MONDAY, MARCH 09, 2026/ PHALGUNA 18, 1947 (SAKA) CORPORATE TAX CONCESSIONS AND WELFARE ALLOCATIONS 2613. DR. AMAR SINGH: Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government proposes to review the effectiveness of corporate tax concessions granted in recent years, in view of subdued private investment, gross capital formation and employment generation and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether allocations to welfare schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), which provide income support to the poorest sections of society, have been reduced, constrained or otherwise diluted during the last three years and if so, the reasons therefor; and (c) whether the Government acknowledges that increase in overall budgetary outlays and tax revenues, arising from economic expansion and a widening tax base have not resulted in a commensurate improvement in the standard of living of a majority of citizens and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (SHRI PANKAJ CHAUDHARY) (a) Currently, there is no such proposal in consideration. (b) Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (Mahatma Gandhi NREGS) is a demand driven wage employment Scheme. It provides livelihood security, i.e. fall-back options for livelihood for the rural households, when no better employment opportunity is available. Details of Budget Estimate and Revised Estimate for Mahatma Gandhi NREGS during the last three financial years and current financial year 2025-2026 as on 04.03.2026 are given below: SI. No. Financial Year Budget Estimate Revised Estimate (Rs. in crore) (Rs. in crore) 1. 2022-23 73000.00 89400.00 2. 2023-24 60000.00 86000.00 3. 2024-25 86000.00 86000.00 4. 2025-26 (as on 06.03.2026) 86000.00 88000.00Under Mahatma Gandhi NREGS for the FY 2024-25. budget allocation of Rs. 86,000 crore was made, which was the highest ever allocation for scheme at the Budget Estimate (BE) stage since inception. In the FY 2025-26, the Government has retained this allocation at Rs. 86,000 crore ensuring continued support for rural employment. Further, the provision for providing additional funds of Rs.2,000 crores has also been made under Revised Estimate stage for the FY 2025-26 for MGNREGA Scheme. Ministry of Rural Development closely monitors the demand for employment at the ground level and seeks additional funds from the Ministry' of Finance as and when required. The release of funds is a continuous process, and the Government of India remains committed to providing funds as per actual demand for employment under the scheme. In the current financial year 2025-26 (as on 04.03.2026).an amount of Rs. 80,616.39 crore has been released to the States/Union Territories, which includes Rs.65,519.35 crore for wage component and an amount of Rs.15,097.03 crore for Material and Admin. (c) No, in general the increase in overall budgetary outlays and tax revenues have resulted in improvement in the standard of living of a majority of citizens. *****