Context:
The India Justice Report 2025-26 shows a resolute downward trend since 2019 in budgetary allocations to justice related schemes. Moreover, a significant aspect that the report has brought forward is that the actual expenditure incurred in a lot of sub components, especially in police modernisation and forensic capacity building, has been much lower than both the Budget Estimates (BE) and the Revised Estimates (RE).
- Issued by: Tata Trust in collaboration with various civil society organizations and data partners
- Edition: Fourth
Key Highlights:
Shrinking State Police Modernisation Budget
- The State Police Forces Modernisation Fund is to modernise police infrastructure and criminal tracking systems.
- Budget trend:
- FY19: ₹900 crore (BE)
- FY21: ₹780 crore (BE), reduced to ₹106 crore (RE)
- FY26: Reduced to ₹587.97 crore (BE)
- Low actual expenditure:
- FY23: An amount of ₹600 crore was allocated but ₹34.7 crore (6%) only spent.
- Repeated underutilisation in FY21, FY23, and FY24 where the amount spent stands at just 20 25% of the total amount allocated.
Shifting Funds for Forensic Modernization
- The Modernisation of Forensic Capacities was established to enhance forensic infrastructure and deal with shortages in staff.
- Funding has seen sharp increases and decreases, reflecting inconsistent policy focus.
The Modernisation of Prisons Fund
- The Modernisation of Prisons Fund, introduced over two decades ago, supports prison renovations, new cell construction, and improved prisoner living conditions.
- Budget trends:
- FY23: Peak allocation of ₹400 crore
- FY24 & FY25: Reduced to ₹300 crore
- Utilisation trends:
- Full utilisation till FY23.
- Post FY23, only 44% of the budgeted fund was used.
Judiciary Related Schemes: Optimal Fund Utilisation
- National Legal Services Authority (NALSA)
- Budget range: ₹150 crore to ₹200 crore (except FY24, which reached ₹400 crore).
- 100% budget utilisation from FY19 to FY24.
- Judicial Infrastructure Development Fund
- BE for FY25: ₹1,123.40 crore
- BE for FY26: Reduced to ₹998 crore
- Almost full utilisation in the past five years.
