These are all major schemes and essential programmes that many marginalised communities rely on.

Despite this significant increase, the proportion of the total railway budget allocated to safety has remained stagnant and even declined since 2018-19 when measured as a percentage of total railway expenditure.

The skewed trend of individual income tax payers contributing more to the union government’s coffers than corporates has its basis in the tax break given to corporates five years ago.

A closer look at the figures reveals a worrying story.