Big part of Rs 3.4 lakh crore petroleum cess used for free vaccine, poor: Hardeep Puri
NEW DELHI: The government earned Rs 3.4 lakh crore in financial year 2020-21 from central excise duty and cess on petroleum products, petroleum minister Hardeep Puri informed the Lok Sabha on Monday, adding that it used a large part of the money to provide free vaccines and relief to the poor through the PM Garib Kalyan Yojana, under which free ration was given to 80 crore beneficiaries during April-November in 2020 and May-June this year.
“The excise duty/cess collected (by the central government) from petrol is Rs 1,01,598 crore and from diesel is Rs 2,33,296 crore during the financial year 2020-21 (that ended on March 31 this year),” Puri said in a written reply to a question.
