Amid the $100-per-barrel oil shock, fears of energy shortage and supply chain disruptions arising out the West Asia conflict, the Centre has allocated ₹57,381 crore for an Economic Stabilisation Fund that would provide it fiscal space to address global headwinds, including “the recent crisis or unanticipated supply chain disruptions”, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in the Lok Sabha. She was replying to the debate on the Second Supplementary Demand for Grants the government placed before Parliament.
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The Lok Sabha on Friday (March 13, 2026) passed the Centre’s demand for a net cash outgo of ₹2.01 lakh crore, including the ₹57,381-crore allocation. Ms. Sitharaman said the Centre would meet its fiscal deficit target for 2025-26 even after taking these fresh allocations into consideration.
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The Minister said policy initiatives undertaken post COVID-19 “made sure that the economy recovered well” and helped the government strengthen the macroeconomic framework. This has enabled the country to absorb economic shocks of various nature without deviating from the fiscal consolidation roadmap, she said.
