Archive · 20 Aug 2026
PM CARES Fund Interest Draws Scrutiny Amid Disaster Deaths
PM CARES is a fund that received money from donors in India and other countries.
By 31 March 2025, it had Rs 8,452.06 crore in its accounts.
Much of this money, more than Rs 7,846.65 crore, was kept in fixed deposits.
Fixed deposits earn interest over time.
The fund earned Rs 469.37 crore from those deposits.
It also earned Rs 5.77 crore from savings accounts.
Altogether, its interest income was Rs 475.14 crore.
The article questions how the fund’s money was being used during a year when more than 3,000 people died in natural disasters.
PM CARES received Rs 1,162.92 crore in donations from India and abroad during 2023-24 and 2024-25.
The fund held Rs 8,452.06 crore in its accounts as of 31 March 2025.
More than Rs 7,846.65 crore was placed in fixed deposits during the same financial year.
The fixed deposits earned Rs 469.37 crore in interest.
Including Rs 5.77 crore from savings accounts, total interest income reached Rs 475.14 crore amid more than 3,000 natural-disaster deaths.
- Who
- The PM CARES Fund and its donors.
- What
- The fund received donations, held large sums in its accounts and fixed deposits, and earned Rs 475.14 crore in interest.
- When
- During financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25; the account balance was reported as of 31 March 2025.
- Where
- Donations came from India and abroad.
- Why
- The article raises questions about keeping much of the fund’s money in fixed deposits during a year with more than 3,000 natural-disaster deaths.
- Donations received
- Rs 1,162.92 crore during 2023-24 and 2024-25
- Account balance
- Rs 8,452.06 crore as of 31 March 2025
- Fixed deposits
- More than Rs 7,846.65 crore
- Fixed-deposit interest
- Rs 469.37 crore
- Savings-account interest
- Rs 5.77 crore
- Total interest income
- Rs 475.14 crore
- Natural-disaster deaths
- More than 3,000 during the cited financial year