Declining Budget for Justice-Related Schemes
Context:
The India Justice Report 2025-26 has highlighted a consistent decline in budget allocations by the Central government for various justice-related schemes since 2019.
The India Justice Report (IJR), published by Tata Trusts, is a comprehensive quantitative index that assesses the capacity of Indian states to deliver justice. It ranks states based on indicators across four pillars: police, judiciary, prisons, and legal aid. In 2022, among larger states (population over 1 crore), Karnataka was ranked the best and Uttar Pradesh the worst. Among smaller states (population less than 1 crore), Sikkim was at the top, and Goa was at the bottom. The IJR also assesses the capacity of State Human Rights Commissions. The first report was published in November 2019.
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- Not only have these allocations reduced, but in many cases, only a small fraction of the budgeted funds has been utilised, raising concerns about the effective implementation of these schemes.
Police Modernisation Fund Sees Sharp Cuts
- The Modernisation Fund for State Police Forces was introduced to enhance police infrastructure and upgrade the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).
- However, over the years, there has been a significant reduction in its budget.
- In FY19, the Centre allocated nearly ₹900 crore for the fund, which declined to ₹780 crore in FY21 and further dropped to ₹587.97 crore in FY26.
- More concerning than these budget reductions are the drastic downward revisions in Revised Estimates (RE).
- For instance, while ₹780 crore was initially allocated in FY21, it was later revised to just ₹106 crore.
- A similar pattern was observed in FY25, where the allocation of ₹520.51 crore was reduced to ₹160 crore the following year.
- Even more troubling is the low actual expenditure.
- Despite an allocation of over ₹600 crore in FY23, only ₹34.7 crore—a mere 6%—was spent on police modernisation.
- Similarly, in FY21, FY23, and FY24, only 20-25% of the allocated budget was utilised.
Inconsistent Allocations for Forensic and Prison Reforms
- The Modernisation of Forensic Capacities scheme, aimed at strengthening forensic infrastructure and addressing the shortage of forensic scientists, has also seen fluctuating budgetary support.
- The Modernisation of Prisons Fund, introduced over two decades ago to improve prison conditions and build new cells, also experienced a funding cut.
- Although the fund’s allocation peaked at ₹400 crore in FY23, it was reduced to ₹300 crore in the last two years.
- Moreover, while the fund was fully utilised until FY23, only 44% of the allocated budget was spent thereafter.
Judiciary-Related Schemes Show Better Utilisation
- The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which provides free legal aid, has seen increased allocations since FY19, generally ranging between ₹150 crore and ₹200 crore.
- The exception was FY24, when the revised allocation rose to ₹400 crore.
- Notably, NALSA has reported 100% fund utilisation from 2018-19 to 2023-24.
- Similarly, the infrastructure development fund for the judiciary, a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at enhancing judicial resources in states, has been efficiently utilised over the past five years.
- However, its budget has declined from ₹1,123.40 crore in FY25 to ₹998 crore in FY26.
While judiciary-related schemes have maintained stable allocations and high utilisation rates, the decline in funds for police modernisation, forensic development, and prison reforms raises serious concerns about law enforcement and criminal justice infrastructure. To ensure an effective justice system, it is essential that funding allocations across all sectors remain adequate and are efficiently utilised.
