SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir received just Rs 0.33 crore under the National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS) during the five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, with no funds released to the Union Territory in the subsequent four years, according to the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
The Union Government’s data, placed before the Lok Sabha in reply to Unstarred Question No. 1596 on Tuesday, show that JK has a State/UT beneficiary ceiling of 323 under the scheme. Ladakh, with a ceiling of 112 beneficiaries, received Rs 0.37 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 0.52 crore in 2024-25, but no funds in the other three years.
The five-year figures indicate that JK received funds equivalent to only about 0.03 per cent of the Rs 1,908.94 crore released nationally during the period. Its annual release of Rs 0.33 crore in 2021-22 was also substantially below the national average of about Rs 53.0 crore per State/UT over the five-year period. Ladakh’s cumulative release of Rs 0.89 crore was also well below the average.
According to the Ministry, the highest cumulative releases during the period were made to Uttar Pradesh at Rs 691.10 crore, followed by West Bengal at Rs 204.70 crore, Odisha at Rs 188.90 crore and Madhya Pradesh at Rs 127.74 crore. Several States and Union Territories, including Kerala, Rajasthan, Telangana and Puducherry, received no funds during the five-year period.
The State/UT-wise beneficiary ceiling for JK was among the lowest in the country, with only Lakshadweep, at nine, Chandigarh, at 80, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, at 86, and D&N Haveli and Daman and Diu, at 119, having lower ceilings. Ladakh’s ceiling of 112 was also among the lowest.
The national beneficiary ceiling under the NFBS stood at 3,58,840 during the period covered by the data. Uttar Pradesh had the highest ceiling at 73,075, followed by Bihar at 35,859 and Maharashtra at 34,987.
The Ministry clarified that NFBS assistance is released to States and Union Territories based on proposals submitted by them and within their respective beneficiary ceilings. It said complete proposals are processed expeditiously and States and UTs are regularly asked through letters and review meetings to submit proposals in time to facilitate early release and disbursement.
From 2026-27, the Union Government has shifted NFBS fund releases to the SNA-SPARSH mechanism. The Ministry said it issued a first instalment Mother Sanction of Rs 369.25 crore to States and UTs under NFBS for 2026-27.
States and UTs with legislatures that have completed onboarding to SNA-SPARSH can use the Mother Sanction for disbursing NFBS benefits, while the Ministry is following up with others to complete the onboarding process and providing technical support, according to the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
