IndiaA Union minister of state for agriculture, Bhagirath Choudhary, has reportedly refunded ₹99 lakh in subsidies he received for his cucumber farm under the National Horticulture Board (NHB) scheme. This disclosure came after an investigation by The Indian Express revealed that Choudhary had taken the subsidy. The government informed the Lok Sabha that Choudhary communicated he had repaid the funds to the relevant bank, which was instructed to return the amount to the NHB. The issue arose during a parliamentary question from Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, who asked if any current Union ministers or MPs had received such subsidies in the past five years. The response identified two BJP MPs, including Choudhary, who received assistance in 2026 and 2025 respectively. The NHB guidelines currently do not include provisions for conflict of interest or recusal for public officials or their family members applying for subsidies. The subsidy program, part of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, provides up to 50% funding for commercial horticultural projects.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of the minister returning the subsidy, citing official responses and external investigations. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omissions that would indicate a clear ideological lean. The information is presented neutrally, and
