3 Things No questions on PM CARES, rise of fatty liver, and India-Pak match
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Feb 11, 2026 Asad Rehman, investigative reporter who uncovered PMO directions on parliamentary questions about PM-linked funds. Anonna Dutt, health reporter who explains rising fatty liver rates in India. Venkata Krishna B, cricket writer who breaks down how an India-Pakistan T20 clash was negotiated. They discuss the PMO-Lok Sabha communication, the growing burden of metabolism-associated fatty liver, and the talks that secured the India-Pak match.
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PMO Flags Funds As Outside Parliamentary Scope
- The PMO told the Lok Sabha Secretariat that questions on PM CARES, PMNRF and NDF are not admissible under Lok Sabha rules.
- The PMO argues the funds are voluntary public contributions and not from the consolidated fund of India, placing them outside parliamentary questions.
Huge Fund Balances With Limited Updates
- PM CARES reported a balance of ₹6,283 crore as of March 2023, with no update since.
- The other two funds also hold corpus in the thousands of crores, underscoring scale despite limited public reporting.
Transparency Gaps Rooted In Legal Status
- The government has argued PM CARES is not a 'public authority' under the RTI Act and thus not subject to RTI.
- The Supreme Court also said PM CARES, as a public charitable trust, need not be audited by the CAG like NDRF.