Parliament has approved the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants allowing the government to spend net additional 3.25 lakh crore rupees in the current financial year. The Rajya Sabha today returned the Appropriation (No 4 and No 5) Bills to Lok Sabha after discussion. Replying to the discussion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam highlighted the various measures taken by the Government to boost the economy saying that the Centre is keeping a close eye on the inflationary trends in the economy. She said, WPI inflation has come down to 5.85 percent which is a twenty-one-month low, and wholesale food inflation has also declined to 2.17 percent.<br />''<br />''Finance Minister said, additional demands for grants have been made for ensuring the food security of the people to effectively deal with the challenges posed in the energy, food, and fertiliser supply chain side by the Ukraine-Russia conflict. She said, the government's targeted approach towards COVID helped the country in reviving growth without going into recession.<br />''<br />''Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharam highlighted that the gross NPAs of banks fall to a six-year low of 5.9 percent and capital expenditure from the private sector is happening in the country supplemented by the policies like Production Linked Incentive scheme. She said, MSMEs have been given support to stay out of the difficult situation. She also said, the Government is careful about borrowings and liabilities. On freebies, the Minister said there is no objection to it if one is able to put it in their budget and have revenues for it. She added that subsidies given to the education and health sector as well as farmers are fully justified.<br />''<br />''The Minister rejected the allegation that the Government is favouring corporate asserting that the Centre is working for the development of all and appeasement for none.<br />''<br />''<br />