States get more funds to mount COVID­19 response 

States get more funds to mount COVID­19 response 

Part of: GS Mains II – Centre-State Relations; Governance  

Context: 

• Union government released more than ₹890 crore as the second instalment of COVID­19 aid 
• The funds are part of ₹15,000­crore package announced in March to support the States’ emergency response and the preparedness of their health systems 
• The money was meant for patient treatment, manpower training and medical infrastructure. 

Do you know? 

• The first instalment of ₹3,000 crore was released in April to all States and UTs, and was used to ramp up testing facilities, augment hospital infrastructure and conduct surveillance activities, along with procurement of essential equipment, drugs and other supplies.