India’s national debt has crossed ₹225 lakh crore, says Minister Santosh Lad
A Congress leader criticized India's rising national debt and economic policies under Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a campaign event.
Reported by The Hindu — Karnataka · context written by Hushread
In brief
- Minister Santosh Lad claimed India's national debt has risen from 55 lakh crore to over 225 lakh crore rupees since 2014.
- Lad contrasted economic growth under former PM Manmohan Singh with what he described as decline under PM Modi.
- He said the government reports higher GDP figures but argued these do not reflect improved prosperity for individual citizens.
- Lad stated that education spending as a share of the national budget has dropped and over 120,000 schools closed in the last decade.
- The remarks were made during a campaign meeting for Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai ahead of legislative council elections.
What happened
Santosh Lad, a Congress leader and minister, spoke at a campaign event in Hubballi on October 11, 2026. He claimed that India's national debt has increased significantly since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, rising from 55 lakh crore to over 225 lakh crore rupees. Lad also criticized the government's economic policies, arguing that reported GDP growth does not benefit ordinary citizens and that education funding has declined, leading to widespread school closures.
Why it matters
Rising national debt can affect government spending, public services, and the overall economy. If education funding is reduced and schools are closing, it could impact millions of students and families across India. These criticisms come during an election campaign, so the statements are meant to influence voters and highlight differences between political parties' approaches to economic management.
How we got here
According to Santosh Lad, India's economy grew steadily under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with higher spending on education. He claims that since 2014, under Prime Minister Modi, national debt has grown rapidly and government priorities have shifted, leading to less spending on education and the closure of many schools. These issues are now being raised as part of the Congress party's campaign messaging.
What happens next
Expect the Congress party to continue highlighting economic and education issues in its campaign, aiming to persuade voters ahead of the legislative council elections. The debate over national debt and government spending is likely to remain a focus as the election approaches.