Karnataka getting funds as per Finance Commission recommendation: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 7 rejected Karnataka's claims on not receiving central funds, and said that the southern state is receiving funds as per Finance Commission recommendations and on time.

"I want to assure this House, whatever the Finance Commission has recommended, I follow it to the last word," Sitharaman said in her reply to lawmakers in the Lok Sabha. "I want to assure this House whatever the Finance Commission has recommended I follow it to the last word."

In 13th Finance Commission for the period 2010-11 to 2014-15, Karnataka received Rs 61,691 crore. In 14th Finance Commission for period 2015-16 to 2019-20, Karnataka received Rs 1,51,309 crore. For current 15th Finance Commission from 2020-21 till 31st march 2026, in four years Karnataka has already received Rs 1,29,854 crore, Sitharaman said. It is estimated that at the end of the fifth year, Karnataka would’ve received Rs 1,74,339 crore, she added.

"Karnataka has also received Rs 6,280 crore as 50-year Interest Free loan. Where is Karnataka being denied money? Where is Karnataka receiving less money?," said FM.

The comments come on a day when Karnataka's Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his Deputy DK Shivakumar, along with hundreds of Congress workers arrived at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to protest over issues ranging from reduced tax devolution to unproportionate resource distribution.

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