PM CARES Fund Balance Rises to ₹8,452 Crore by FY 2024–25

Key Facts

• PM CARES Fund stands for Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund.
• Established as a public charitable trust in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Distinct from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.
• Closing balance as of 31 March 2025: ₹8,452.07 crore.
• Approximately 93% of the closing balance is held in fixed deposits (₹7,846.65 crore), and ₹605.41 crore is in savings bank accounts.
• The fund earned ₹469.38 crore in interest from fixed deposits during FY 2024–25, constituting the largest income source.
• Voluntary domestic donations declined by 30% to ₹479.05 crore compared to ₹681.81 crore in FY 2023–24.
• Foreign contributions declined by 18%, amounting to ₹92.83 lakh in FY 2024–25.
• Total expenditure during FY 2024–25 was ₹87.85 lakh (0.01% of balance), almost entirely spent on the PM CARES for Children Scheme.
• The audited accounts for FY 2023–24 and 2024–25 were signed off in August 2026 by trust officials in Delhi and the Mumbai-based audit firm KKC & Associates LLP.

Background & Context

The PM CARES Fund was established as a public charitable trust in March 2020 specifically to address emergency relief and disaster assistance needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic in India. It accepts voluntary contributions from individuals, institutions, and companies. The fund operates independently from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, having a separate legal and administrative framework. Accumulated corpus has grown primarily through placements in fixed deposits and the interest accrued from these deposits over fiscal years. Despite the declining trend in voluntary and foreign donations, the fund continues to sustain itself largely from interest income. The fund's limited expenditure, notably through schemes such as PM CARES for Children, focuses on welfare and rehabilitation components.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

Knowledge of the PM CARES Fund's genesis, structure, financial status, and utilization is relevant for understanding recent government initiatives in disaster management and public finance. Exam questions often highlight current affairs related to government relief funds, fiscal transparency, and governance mechanisms. The fund exemplifies government response to emergencies, the role of public charitable trusts, and the significance of interest income as a funding source. Furthermore, the fund’s audited accounts and related processes reflect important themes in accountability and fund management. Recognizing data such as corpus size, income-expenditure patterns, and related welfare schemes aids in comprehensive preparation for competitive examinations in India.

Points to Remember

• Full form: Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES).
• Set up in March 2020 as a public charitable trust, distinct from PM National Relief Fund.
• Closing balance as on 31 March 2025: ₹8,452.07 crore, largely invested in fixed deposits (~93%).
• Interest income (₹469.38 crore in FY 2024–25) is the primary source of funds.
• Voluntary domestic contributions declined by 30% to ₹479.05 crore in FY 2024–25.
• Foreign contributions reduced by 18% to ₹92.83 lakh.
• Expenditure was very low (₹87.85 lakh), mainly toward PM CARES for Children Scheme.
• Audit by KKC & Associates LLP and trust officials completed in August 2026.