Simple explanation
Use primary sources for public money: Budget documents, GST notifications, PFMS, CAG reports, RBI reports, MoSPI releases and state finance department sites.
Secondary explainers can help, but official documents are where you verify numbers.
Real-life Indian example
For a state spending claim, check the state budget, finance accounts, CAG report and any department dashboard or PFMS trail where available.
Visual flow
India Budget
Union Budget documents, receipts, expenditure, fiscal deficit and ministry allocations.
GST PolicyGST Council
GST Council meetings, agenda, recommendations and major policy updates.
GST RulesCBIC GST
GST rates, circulars, notifications, forms and implementation updates.
Fund FlowPFMS
Public fund flow, payments and scheme-level financial tracking where available.
AuditCAG India
State finance audit reports, finance accounts, appropriation accounts and audit findings.
Budget AnalysisPRS India State Budgets
Simplified state budget analysis, comparisons and explainers.
Banking and MacroRBI
State finances, economy, banking, monetary policy and financial stability reports.
StatisticsMoSPI
National accounts, inflation, industrial output and official statistical releases.
State BudgetsState Finance Department Websites
Individual state budget documents, demands for grants and finance statements.
TreasuryState Treasury Websites
State-level payment and treasury data where a state publishes it online.
Key terms
- Divisible Pool: Central taxes that are shared with states as recommended by the Finance Commission.
- Finance Commission: A constitutional body that recommends how tax revenue and grants are shared with states.
- State Excise: A state tax commonly applied to alcohol production and sale.
- Stamp Duty: A state levy paid on legal documents such as property registration.
Common confusion
- A news graphic may simplify categories.
- Old budget PDFs can be superseded by revised estimates.
- Different portals answer different questions.
Why this matters
Verification builds financial citizenship and reduces dependence on forwarded claims.
Mini quiz
What is the best first step when you see a public money claim?