<h1>Capital expenditure claims rebutted: government says capex rose and variations reflect timing, procedures, and monitoring mechanisms.</h1> The Finance Minister rebutted claims of a capital expenditure cut, stating capex rose to Rs 11.21 lakh crore for 2025-26 and attributing apparent reductions to timing and contextual factors such as the Model Code of Conduct, weather events, and lower state and agency spending. She detailed Budget Estimates, Revised Estimates and actual releases for the SASCI and the interest-free 50 year special assistance scheme, noting actual releases often differ from RE but have increased cumulatively. Oversight of state use occurs with a time lag via digital nodal accounts and utilisation certificates.