<h1>Union finance minister says Rs 3.6 lakh crore disbursed as 50-year interest-free aid for state capital projects</h1> The union finance minister stated that approximately Rs 3.6 lakh crore has been disbursed to 22 state governments as 50-year interest-free assistance to support capital formation, with those states using the funds to achieve over 10% growth in capital expenditure from their own resources. The minister also reported that national capital investment rose to 4.1% of GDP in 2024-25 from 1.7% in 2013-14, and highlighted infrastructure gains over the past decade-plus, including operationalising 88 airports, laying 31,000 km of new rail tracks, expanding metro networks fourfold, doubling port capacity and increasing national highways by 60%.