In the Union Budget for FY26-27, presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the budget allocation for the Intelligence Bureau was substantially increased. The Intelligence Bureau, or IB, is India's internal intelligence agency.
How much was the IB budget increased?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised the IB's allocation to Rs. 6,782.43 crore. This is over 50 per cent higher than the Rs. 4,159.11 crore set aside in the revised estimates for the current year, The Print reported.
A large share of the money is for long-term spending. Of the total allocation, Rs. 2,549 crore is marked for capital expenditure. This is nearly ten times more than the Rs. 257 crore provided under the same head in the revised estimates this year. Capital spending is for assets and infrastructure, while revenue spending goes towards salaries and daily operations, according to The Print.
Also Read | How long was Budget 2026? A look at Nirmala Sitharaman’s shortest and longest speeches
The Union government has also boosted funds for the IB's administrative needs. Nearly Rs. 300 crore more has been added compared to the original budget. This money supports core work such as gathering and analysing intelligence on internal threats, terrorism, and other security risks.
R&AW budget increased marginally, NATGRID funds cut
The Budget has cut NATGRID's funding by 27 per cent. Capital spending has taken the biggest hit. It has been reduced by 43 per cent, from Rs. 91.45 crore to Rs. 52.17 crore, The New Indian Express reported.
Also Read | ‘Forward-looking vision for India’s ecosystem’, healthcare sector expert welcomes Union Budget 2026
NATGRID links data from immigration, banks, telecom firms, and railways to give real-time intelligence. Its revenue spending, however, has stayed unchanged at Rs. 56.81 crore.
Funds for the Cabinet Secretariat, under which R&AW functions, have seen a small rise. The allocation stands at Rs. 80 crore. This is 2.6 per cent higher than the Rs. 78 crore in the revised estimates.
