The Lok Sabha on Monday cleared the second batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants authorising the government to spend an additional Rs 3.73 lakh crore during the current fiscal amid protests by the Opposition over various issues.

The extra spending includes infusion of over Rs 62,000 crore into the company that holds residual assets and liabilities of Air India; Rs 58,430 crore by way of additional fertiliser subsidy;

Rs 53,123 crore towards payment of pending export incentives; and Rs 22,039 crore to rural development ministry for transfer to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Fund.

The Lower House passed the second batch with voice vote, permitting the government to spend an additional Rs 3.73 lakh crore.

Talking about the Supplementary Demands for Grants, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said additional cash outgo of Rs 2.99 lakh crore is because of big ticket expenditure going for Air India and a rise in fertiliser subsidy due to firming up of global prices. PTI