PM Modi's total assets up marginally in FY17, cash in hand sees 67% rise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cash in hand rose 67 per cent in financial year 2016-17 when compared with the amount he had in the previous year. Disclosures made by the government show that the PM had around Rs 1.5 lakh in cash as of March 31, 2017, up from Rs 89,700 in the previous year's filings. The overall worth of his financial assets has gone up to Rs 2 crore in FY17 from Rs 1.73 crore in FY16.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's cash in hand has fallen significantly to Rs 12.18 lakh in the year ended March 2017, from Rs 65.29 lakh in FY16. Among others, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's cash in hand has also dipped to Rs 1.10 lakh in FY17, from Rs 2.84 lakh in FY16. Asset declarations for FY17 are yet to be filed by several Union ministers.

Cash and digital transactions have been at the centre of the narrative ever since demonetisation of big currencies was announced on November 8, 2016.

While the exact cash component of Modi's financial assets was Rs 1,49,700 in March, his savings bank deposits stood at Rs 1,33,496 and fixed deposits at Rs 90,26,148. Infrastructure bond deposits of Rs 20,000 dated January 25, 2012, were part of the declarations. In addition, the PM held a National Savings Certificate worth Rs 3,96,505 and an LIC policy of Rs 1,59,281 as of March 2017.

The PM continues without any personal vehicle. The disclosures mention that he neither has a yacht nor an aircraft. He hasn't given out any loan either.

Modi hasn't added to the jewellery he possessed earlier. Four pieces of gold (rings) valued at about Rs 1.28 lakh are what he held in March. The value of the rings has appreciated marginally from Rs 1.27 lakh in FY16. In immoveable assets, the disclosures show a piece of land in Ahmedabad purchased in October 2002. The current value of the property is estimated at around Rs 1 crore and the total worth of his assets is a little more than Rs 2 crore.

Last year, the PM's cash in hand had risen to Rs 89,700 from Rs 4,700 in FY15. His total wealth was valued at Rs 1.73 crore in March 2016 against Rs 1.41 crore in March 2015. In FY16, a new entry in the PM's financial assets was royalty from books at Rs 12.35 lakh. However, the latest disclosures do not mention any royalty from books.