MP Satnam Sandhu raises DBT issue in Parliament; Centre says Rs 36,249 crore transferred to Punjab beneficiaries in 5 yrs
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, July 21, 2026: Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments under flagship Central Government welfare schemes in Punjab increased by nearly 175 per cent over the past five years, with ₹36,249.45 crore transferred directly to beneficiaries between 2021-22 and 2025-26, the Union Ministry of Finance informed Parliament.
The information was shared by Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
According to the Ministry, DBT transfers to Punjab beneficiaries rose from ₹3,344.18 crore in 2021-22 to ₹9,196.05 crore in 2025-26, reflecting a significant expansion in the reach of technology-driven welfare delivery.
At the national level, the Centre transferred ₹17.57 lakh crore through the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) over the five-year period. The Ministry also said governance reforms and the DBT mechanism helped save ₹3.35 lakh crore by eliminating duplicate and fake beneficiaries and plugging leakages in welfare schemes.
The year-wise national savings from leakages stood at ₹44,572 crore in 2020-21, ₹61,899 crore in 2021-22, ₹63,697 crore in 2022-23, ₹82,573 crore in 2023-24, and ₹83,064 crore in 2024-25, taking the cumulative savings to ₹3,35,805 crore.
In his question, MP Satnam Singh Sandhu sought details of the year-wise DBT transfers made through PFMS, the amount transferred to Punjab beneficiaries, and the savings achieved through plugging leakages and removing duplicate beneficiaries.
Commenting on the figures, Sandhu said the DBT system has transformed the delivery of government welfare schemes by ensuring that benefits are credited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts.
"Direct Benefit Transfer has strengthened transparency, reduced the role of intermediaries and helped curb leakages and corruption in the delivery of public funds. The expansion of DBT is a significant step towards ensuring that government benefits reach the intended beneficiaries," he said.
He added that the DBT ecosystem, supported by digital infrastructure and the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, has created a direct link between the government and beneficiaries, improving transparency and efficiency in public spending.
According to the Ministry, 318 schemes across 56 Central Ministries are currently covered under the DBT framework, including PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi, MGNREGA, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, AMRUT, and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, with benefits transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts.