The government on Friday proposed to increase the Plan expenditure for 2012-13 to Rs 5,21,025 crore, up around 18 per cent from the Budget estimates for the current fiscal.

However, the jump in the Plan expenditure for 2012-13 is 22.13 per cent when compared with the revised estimates of the same for current fiscal at Rs 4,26,604 crore.

The Budget 2011-12 estimated such expenditure at Rs 4,41,547 crore.

The Plan expenditure is the government spending on social sector schemes such as Bharat Nirman, rural employment guarantee and National Rural Health Mission. Besides, it includes Centre's assistance to various states and Union Territories Plans.

Presenting the Budget 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, "The Plan expenditure for 2012-13 is Rs 5,21,025 crore, which is 18 per cent higher than budget estimates of 2011-12. This is higher than 15 per cent increase projected in the Approach to 12th Plan (2012-7)."

Expressing satisfaction over the Plan spending in 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12), Mukerhjee said, "I am happy to inform the members that in Eleventh Plan, we have been able to meet 99 per cent of the total outlay."

The non-Plan Expenditure for 2012-13 is budgeted at Rs 9,69,900 crore, which is 8.7 per cent higher than the revised estimates. It is 18.88 per cent higher than the budget estimates for the current fiscal.