Social spend share of GDP falls

While the share of social services and rural development as proportion of Central expenditure has increased in 2010-11, there is a fall in the spending as a proportion of the gross domestic product (GDP) during the period. It is expected to fall from 7.34 per cent in 2010-11 to 6.74 per cent in 2011-12, the Economic Survey has said. The expenditure shows an increase as a proportion of the total Central expenditure, but it has declined as a proportion of the GDP, it says. The social services share in the Central expenditure went up from 13.38 per cent in 2006-7 to 18.47 per cent in 2011-12. It increased from 21.6 per cent in 2006-7 to 24.1 per cent in 2009-10 and further to 25 per cent in 2011-12 (BE). As a proportion of the GDP, this share increased from 5.57 per cent in 2006-7 to 7.34 per cent in 2010-11. It, however, says in 2011-12 it is expected to be 6.74 per cent as per the BE. While expenditure on education as a proportion of GDP increased from 2.72 per cent in 2006-7 to 3.11 per cent in 2011-12 (BE), the expenditure on health increased from 1.25 per cent in 2006-7 to 1.30 per cent in 2011-12.