India Justice Report 2025-26: Shrinking Justice Budgets
Why in the news
The fourth India Justice Report, by Tata Trust, flags a decline since 2019 in justice-scheme allocations and wide gaps between planned and real spending.
Key facts
- Police and forensic modernisation spending stayed far below Budget Estimates (BE) and Revised Estimates (RE).
- State Police Forces Modernisation Fund upgrades police infrastructure and criminal tracking systems; FY21, FY23 and FY24 saw only 20-25% spent.
- Modernisation of Forensic Capacities targets forensic infrastructure and staff shortages; its funding swings sharply.
- Modernisation of Prisons Fund, over two decades old, supports renovation, new cells and better living conditions.
Fund-wise trends
| Fund | Budget trend | Utilisation |
|---|---|---|
| Police modernisation | ₹900 crore (FY19 BE); ₹780 crore cut to ₹106 crore RE (FY21); ₹587.97 crore BE (FY26) | FY23: ₹34.7 crore of ₹600 crore |
| Prisons modernisation | Peak ₹400 crore (FY23); ₹300 crore in FY24-FY25 | Full till FY23; then 44% |
| NALSA | ₹150-200 crore; ₹400 crore in FY24 | 100% in FY19-FY24 |
| Judicial Infrastructure Development Fund | ₹1,123.40 crore (FY25 BE); ₹998 crore (FY26 BE) | Almost full for five years |
Exam angle
- Issued by Tata Trust; fourth edition.
- Best utilised: NALSA (100%).