NEW DELHI: Expenditure on the broadcasting sector alone in the past three years up to March 2015 has been more than three to four times the total expenditure on the other sectors covered by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB): secretariat, film and information.

An audit of the Ministry’s accounts has revealed that during 2014-15, a total of Rs 2467.4 crore (including Rs 2004.41 crore as non-plan expenditure) as was set aside for broadcasting alone, while the expenditure on the information sector was Rs 466.4 crore (including Rs 269.84 non-plan); Rs 176.33 crore (including Rs 97.16 crore non-plan) on film and Rs 48.4 crore (including Rs 46.35 crore non-plan) on secretariat expenses.

During 2013-14, expenditure on broadcasting was Rs 2157.19 crore (including Rs 1733.38 crore non-plan) as against Rs 474.73 crore (including Rs 247.83 crore non-plan) on information; Rs 153.99 crore (of which Rs 90.32 crore was non-plan) on film; and Rs 42.31 crore (including Rs 41.47 crore non-plan) on Secretariat expenses.

The expenditure on broadcasting in 2012-13 was Rs 2069.09 crore (of which Rs 1654.33 crore was non-plan), as against Rs  381.22 crore (including Rs 234.75 crore non-plan); Rs 133.02 crore (including Rs 83.72 crore as non-plan); and Rs 41.93 crore (including Rs 40.36 crore non-plan) on Secretarial expenses.