Centre uses 40% of annual fertiliser subsidy in first 3.5 months

Govt has allocated little less than Rs 1.8 lakh crore fertiliser subsidy for 2026-27NEW DELHI: Govt has spent Rs 70,709 crore, nearly 40% of the fertiliser subsidy allocated for 2026-27, in the first three-and-a-half months of the current fiscal year, indicating the subsidy bill is set to exceed the budget estimate due to the conflict in West Asia.The fertiliser department provided this information to Rajya Sabha in a written reply to a question. “To reduce dependence on a limited number of countries for fertiliser imports, the department (fertiliser) has taken several measures to diversify import sources by engaging with Indian missions in various countries to identify additional suppliers and strengthen the fertiliser supply chain, with a view to ensuring the timely and adequate availabi