Amid Corona Crisis, Centre Releases Rs 6,195 Crore In Revenue Deficit Grant To 14 States

In a bid to help the states in their fight against the deadly Coronavirus that has infected 70,000 people and killed over 2,200 in the country, the government on Monday (11 May) released a sum of Rs 6,195.08 crore to 14 States as the second equated monthly instalment of the Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grant as was recommended by the 15th Finance Commission, reports Economic Times.

The latest revenue deficit grant comes nearly three months after the first such grant which had been issued to the states earlier on 14 March.

According to the report, the Centre released Rs 1,276 crore of advance payments to Kerala, followed by over Rs 952 crore to Himachal Pradesh. Punjab and Assam have received sums of Rs 638 crore and Rs 631 crore respectively.

Apart from these States, Andhra Pradesh has received a revenue deficit grant of Rs 491 crore, Uttarakhand has received Rs 423 crore and West Bengal has got a sum of Rs 417 crore.

After issuing the grant, Ministry of Finance in a statement said that the grant would provide the States with additional resources amid the COVID-19 crisis.