The Finance Ministry has decided to provide an additional amount of up to Rs.15,000 crore to States as an interest-free fifty-year loan for spending on capital projects. The Department of Expenditure in the Finance Ministry has issued fresh guidelines in this regard on the “Scheme of Financial Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure” for the financial year 2021–22.

The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech had announced that the Centre would take measures to nudge states to spend more on infrastructure and to incentivise disinvestment of their public sector enterprises.

Capital expenditure creates employment, particularly for the poor and unskilled, has a high multiplier effect, enhances the future productive capacity of the economy, and results in a higher rate of economic growth. Hence, regardless of the adverse financial position of the Central government, it was decided last year to launch a "Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Expenditure".

Under the scheme, financial assistance is provided to the state governments in the form of 50-year interest-free loan. An amount not exceeding Rs 12,000 crore was earmarked for the scheme for the financial year 2020-21, and a sum of Rs 11,830.29 crore was released to the states. This helped to sustain state-level capital expenditure in the pandemic year.

In view of the positive response to the scheme and considering the requests of the state governments, the Centre has decided to continue the scheme in the year 2021-22, a finance ministry statement said.

Funds provided to the states under the scheme by the Centre shall be used for new and ongoing capital projects, for long term benefit to the state. The funds may also be used for settling pending bills in ongoing capital projects.

Petrol, Diesel prices unchanged, revisions may expect after polls

Second threat of Covid-19 will dampen India Inc's recovery: ICRA Report

A Successful Change In Career, Turned Out Better than Expected From Sakeem Khan