00:00DRDO, if our projects fail, we have to answer to CAG why loss has been caused to the government.
00:07This clip of DRDO Chairman Kamath is doing the rounds again.
00:10And people online are asking just one question.
00:13When DRDO faces scrutiny for every Rupee it spends on Defence Research,
00:16why is the state spending on cash handouts exceeding DRDO's entire budget?
00:20Let's take a look.
00:21This analysis found that across 8 elections between 2023 and 2025,
00:25state governments disbursed Rs 67,928 crore in pre-pole welfare.
00:31The story is much the same for 2026, where five states are going to the polls.
00:35On March 29, Tamil Nadu CM's Stalin announced the Illatharsi coupon scheme,
00:40which offers Rs 8,000 to women for purchasing household electronic goods.
00:45Earlier this year, Rs 6,936 crore was disbursed as Pongdal cash gifts
00:49and Rs 6,550 crore to women under another scheme.
00:53The TMC hiked Lakshir Bhandar by Rs 500 a month, covering 2.2 crore women.
00:59The cost of just that hike, Rs 13,200 crore a year.
01:03When other similar schemes per state are taken into account,
01:06the amount climbs to Rs 18,600 crore.
01:09In Assam on March 10, the BJP government credited Rs 9,000 each to Rs 40 lakh women under Ornodoye.
01:15That was four months of instalments clucked together with a Bihu top-up.
01:19Right before the Vidhan Sabha polls in 2025,
01:21Bihar disbursed Rs 19,333 crore under the Mahila Rozgari Ojana.
01:26Meanwhile, DRDO's entire budget is Rs 29,000 crore.
01:30Share your thoughts below.
01:32No.
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