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Electoral trusts received ₹3,826.34 crore successful contributions successful fiscal twelvemonth 2024-25 and disbursed ₹3,826.35 crore to governmental parties, with the BJP receiving much than 82% of the funds, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said connected Friday (February 13, 2026).
In its latest study analysing publication documents submitted to the Election Commission (EC), the NGO said 10 of the 20 registered electoral trusts declared receiving donations during FY25, portion 5 did not person their reports disposable connected the Commission’s website adjacent 3 months aft the deadline.
According to the ADR, a full of ₹3,826.34 crore was received from corporations and individuals during the fiscal twelvemonth and ₹3,826.35 crore distributed to assorted governmental parties, successful keeping with rules that mandate trusts to disburse astatine slightest 95% of contributions received successful a year.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party received ₹3,157.65 crore, accounting for 82.52% of the full funds distributed by the electoral trusts. The Indian National Congress (INC) received ₹298.78 crore oregon 7.81%, portion the Trinamool Congress got ₹102 crore (2.67%). Nineteen different parties unneurotic received ₹267.92 crore.
Among the trusts, Prudent Electoral Trust disbursed the highest magnitude — ₹2,668.46 crore — to 15 governmental parties, followed by Progressive Electoral Trust, which donated ₹914.97 crore to 10 parties.
The ADR said 228 firm oregon concern houses contributed ₹3,636.82 crore, portion 99 individuals donated ₹187.62 crore during the year. The apical 10 donors unneurotic accounted for ₹1,908.86 crore — astir 49.89% of the full contributions.
Single-largest donor
Elevated Avenue Realty LLP was the single-largest donor, contributing ₹500 crore, followed by Tata Sons Private Limited (₹308.13 crore), Tata Consultancy Services Limited (₹217.62 crore) and Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (₹175 crore).
Sector-wise, manufacturing accounted for the largest stock of donations astatine ₹1,063.13 crore (27.78%), followed by existent property (₹629.17 crore oregon 16.44%) and communication/IT/telecom (₹451.86 crore oregon 11.81%).
State-wise, Maharashtra emerged arsenic the largest root of contributions astatine ₹1,225.43 crore, followed by Telangana (₹358.25 crore), Haryana (₹212.9 crore), West Bengal (₹203.8538 crore) and Gujarat (₹200.50 crore). However, the ADR noted that the donors’ addresses were not disclosed for contributions worthy ₹1,065.2 crore, the bulk of which went to Prudent Electoral Trust.
Compliance issues
The study besides flagged compliance issues. Five of the 15 trusts that submitted yearly reports declared nil contributions successful FY25. The publication reports of 5 registered trusts — Swadeshi Electoral Trust, AB General Electoral Trust, PD General Electoral Trust, Janta Nirvachak Electoral Trust and Independent Electoral Trust — were not disposable connected the EC's website, the ADR said.
It further pointed retired that Harmony Electoral Trust received ₹35.55 crore but disbursed ₹35.65 crore — ₹10 lakh much than it received during the year.
Under the Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013, notified aft amendments to the Income Tax Rules, electoral trusts are acceptable up to person voluntary contributions from companies and individuals and administer those to registered governmental parties successful a transparent manner. The support of specified trusts is granted by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) and is taxable to periodic renewals.
Recommending greater transparency, the ADR said trusts that neglect to comply with the EC’s guidelines should look strict enactment and that details of firm governmental contributions should beryllium placed successful the nationalist domain done institution disclosures.
The electoral bonds scheme, which had allowed anonymous firm and idiosyncratic donations to governmental parties done banking instruments, was scrapped successful February 2024 by the Supreme Court, which held it unconstitutional and violative of the voters’ close to information.
