Modi's cash in hand: Only Rs 4,700

Narendra Modi is one of the least affluent ministers in the Union Cabinet, reveals Nivedita Mookerji.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pinstripe monogrammed bandhgala that he wore during US President Barack Obama's visit was auctioned last year for Rs 4.31 crore (Rs 43.1 million). Photograph: PTI photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's declared assets have gone up by around Rs 15 lakh (Rs 1.5 million) in the financial year 2014-2015 to Rs 1.41 crore (Rs 14.1 million), from Rs 1.26 crore (Rs 12.6 million) in the previous year. This includes a Gandhinagar property currently valued at Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million).

The slight increase in Modi's assets is primarily from the bank deposits, according to information made available by the Prime Minister's Office.

The PM perhaps has the minimum amount of cash in hand among all his Cabinet colleagues for whom data can be accessed at this point. Modi had only Rs 4,700 cash in hand as of March 31, 2015. In the corresponding period last year, he had Rs 38,700.

The PM continues to not own any car, aircraft or yacht. The value of his four gold rings weighing 45 grams is down by a notch to Rs 1.18 lakh (Rs 118,000), from Rs 1.20 lakh (Rs 120,000) in FY 2014. Financial details of the PM's wife Jashodaben are listed as 'not known.'

The PM's bank deposits including fixed deposits are worth over Rs 31 lakh (Rs 3.1 million). In addition, he has an LIC policy and a National Savings Certificate, totalling about Rs 7.5 lakh (Rs 750,000). Neither has he given out any loan or advance to anybody, nor has he taken any.

Among the prominent members of his Cabinet, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's declared financial assets have risen to around Rs 4.54 crore (Rs 45.4 million) in 2014-2015, up from Rs 2.73 crore (Rs 27.3 million) in the previous year. Swaraj has Rs 1.05 lakh (Rs 105,000) in cash.

The total financial assets of her husband Swaraj Kaushal are shown much higher at around Rs 15.95 crore (Rs 159.5 million).

Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who was the fourth highest in the list of ministers' assets in 2014 at Rs 14.91 crore (Rs 149.1 million), has declared assets over Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) in FY15. Prasad's cash in hand was Rs 60,468.

Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, who was listed one of the five non-crore-patiministers in FY14, is yet to reach the Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) mark. His total declared assets came to around Rs 29.23 lakh (Rs 2.923 million), marginally up from Rs 20.45 lakh (Rs 2.45 million)in the previous year. His cash in hand was Rs 38,000. However, declarations for Naidu's wife show that she owns assets worth more than Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million).

Law Minister Sadanand Gowda's assets have dipped from Rs 4.34 crore (Rs 43.4 million) in FY14 to a little over Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) in FY15 if the liabilities and loans are taken into account. Besides other things, Gowda has listed a gun worth Rs 8,500 and a revolver worth Rs 55,000 in his declarations.

HRD minister Smriti Irani has declared total personal assets of Rs 4.27 crore (Rs 42.7 million) including a flat valued at Rs 2.78 crore (Rs 27.8 million). She owns a Honda Brio and a Maruti Ertigo. Her previous year's declarations could not be compared immediately. She has cash of around Rs 10.5 lakh (Rs 1.05 million).

Information related to the richest minister Arun Jaitley, whose financial assets were valued at Rs 72.10 crore (Rs 721 million) in FY14, have not been shared yet for FY15. Others such as Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Power Minister Piyush Goyal, road and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari are also among those for whom FY15 assets declaration could not be accessed.

NARENDRA MODI'S ASSETS
TOTAL ASSETS Rs 14,114,893
Rs 1 crore: Property in Gandhinagar
Rs 3,196,457: Bank deposits (including FDs)
Rs 550,815: National Savings Certificate
Rs 118,890: Four gold rings (45 grams)
Rs 199,031: LIC policy
Rs 25,000: Election deposit in Vadodara
Rs 20,000: Bonds
Rs 4,700: Cash in hand
Car: No
Assets of Jashodaben: 'Not known'
The prime minister has neither given out any loan or advance to anybody, nor taken any.