Interim Budget: Govt's subsidy burden may rise by about 12% to Rs 3.34 trn

The government’s subsidy burden is expected to rise by about 12 per cent to Rs 3.34 trillion next year, primarily on account of a massive increase in petroleum subsidy that has risen by more than half. 

The total revised subsidy estimate for the current financial year will increase by Rs 3,713.7 crore over the Budget subsidy provision, indicating some subsidy for this year (2018-19 or FY19) has been rolled over to the next year (2019-20 or FY20). 

Petroleum subsidy that goes into providing cheap liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene for households is estimated to rise to Rs 37,478 crore