Union Budget 2026: Home Ministry Allocation Jumps, Census Funding Soars

• The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) budget is set to rise for the third consecutive year, reaching Rs 2,55,234 crore in 2026-27, a 5.69% increase over the previous year.
• A significant driver of this increase is a massive jump in census funding, with allocations for Census, Survey and Statistics/Registrar General of India (RGI) rising to Rs 6,000 crore in 2026-27 from Rs 574.80 crore in 2025-26.
• This surge in census funding reflects preparations for a long-pending national census, including investments in digital enumeration platforms and manpower deployment.
• Despite the census surge, internal security remains the largest component, with the Police head receiving Rs 1,73,802.53 crore (68% of MHA expenditure) and transfers to Jammu & Kashmir amounting to Rs 43,290.29 crore (17%).
• Union Territories like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh, and Chandigarh also see significant allocations, emphasizing infrastructure development in strategic regions.

Why It Matters: Union Budget 2026 boosts Home Ministry spending, with a major focus on census and continued security allocations.