PM CARES Fund Donations Drop 30% in FY25

Domestic contributions to the PM CARES Fund saw a significant decline of 30% in fiscal year 2024-2025, reaching approximately ₹479 crore. Foreign donations also experienced an 18% reduction, totaling ₹92.8 lakh, as detailed in the latest audit report.

Despite the dip in new contributions, the fund’s overall balance grew. As of March 31, 2025, the total balance stood at ₹8,452 crore, an increase from ₹7,173 crore recorded in the previous fiscal year, with the majority of these funds held in fixed deposits.

Contribution Landscape in Key Numbers

• Domestic donations in FY23-24 were ₹681.8 crore.
• Foreign donations in FY23-24 amounted to ₹1.13 crore.
• Expenditure on the PM CARES for Children Scheme reduced to ₹87.8 lakh in 2024-25, a sharp drop from ₹15.37 crore in the prior year.

Historically, the fund observed its highest domestic voluntary contributions at ₹7,184 crore in 2020-21. This peak was followed by a steady decline, with contributions falling to ₹909 crore by 2022-23.

Foreign contributions mirrored this trend, plummeting from a high of ₹495 crore in 2020-21. The current figure of ₹92.8 lakh represents the second lowest since the fund’s establishment in 2019-20.

Understanding the PM CARES Fund

The Narendra Modi government established the PM CARES Fund as a public charitable trust. Its primary objective is to address emergency and distress situations, exemplified by the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This fund operates solely on voluntary contributions and receives no budgetary support from the government. The Prime Minister serves as its ex-officio chairman, overseeing its operations and deployment of resources.

In the past, the fund has been instrumental in emergency healthcare initiatives. Significant spending occurred in 2021-22 for setting up oxygen plants and procuring ventilators for government hospitals across India, demonstrating its role in crisis response.