Overview
The Congress party reported a sharp drop in donations above ₹20,000 for the financial year 2025‑26. The amount fell to ₹130.69 crore, a 75% decline from the previous year’s ₹517.39 crore. This is the steepest fall in a decade, second only to the 86% plunge in 2015‑16.
Key Developments
- Disclosed donations >₹20,000 fell to ₹130.69 crore in 2025‑26, down from ₹517.39 crore in 2024‑25.
- The decline follows two years of growth: ₹281.48 crore in 2023‑24 and a peak in the Lok Sabha election year 2024‑25.
- BJP received ₹6,074.02 crore in the same category for 2024‑25.
- Contributions from the Prudent Electoral Trust dropped from ₹216.34 crore to ₹25 crore, an 88% fall.
- Major individual donors in 2025‑26 included Star Cement (₹5 crore), Sajjan Bhajanka (₹4 crore) and Prem Kumar Bhajanka (₹2 crore).
Important Facts
The figures exclude electoral bonds. When bond receipts are added, 2025‑26 becomes the lowest collection since 2020‑21. Earlier low points were ₹74.52 crore (2020‑21), ₹95.46 crore (2021‑22) and ₹79.92 crore (2022‑23). The party’s audited accounts for 2025‑26 are still pending, so the total income—including smaller donations, membership fees, coupon collections and interest—remains unknown. For reference, coupon collections alone fetched ₹350.12 crore in 2024‑25.
The data comes from the party’s contribution report filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI). The BJP’s 2025‑26 report has not yet been released.
Exam Relevance
- Understanding party finance is essential for GS 2 (Polity) and GS 3 (Economy) questions on political funding, transparency, and the role of the ECI.
- The sharp fall highlights the impact of electoral cycles, especially the Lok Sabha elections on donation patterns.
- Comparison with the BJP’s massive receipts underscores the financial asymmetry between the ruling and opposition parties, a recurring theme in UPSC essays on democratic health.
- Electoral trusts and bonds raise questions about donor anonymity, accountability, and the need for reforms—topics frequently asked in ethics and governance papers.
Way Forward
For a clearer picture of party finances, the Congress must publish its audited accounts promptly. The ECI should enforce timely disclosure of all parties’ contribution reports, including the BJP’s 2025‑26 data. Strengthening regulations around electoral trusts and bonds would improve transparency. Aspirants should monitor these trends, as they often shape policy debates on political funding reforms.