Healthcare in Low-resource Settings 2014; volume 2:1866 Efficiency of social sector varied between 36.8 (in 1990-1995) to 39.2% (2010-2011).1 Within social sector, major Correspondence: Brijesh C. Purohit, Madras expenditure in India: chunk (nearly 57%) is being spent on educa- School of Economics, Gandhi Mandapam Road, a case of health and education tion, sports, art and culture (46.1%) and med- Kottur, Chennai-600025, India. in selected Indian states ical and public health (10.5%). The other items Tel. +91.044.2230.0304 - Fax: +91.044.2235.4847. which include: family welfare and water supply E-mail:
[email protected] Brijesh C. Purohit and sanitation, housing, urban development, Key words: social sector expenditure, India, welfare of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes health, education. Madras School of Economics, Kottur, and other backward castes, labour and labour India welfare, social security and welfare, nutrition, Acknowledgments: an earlier version of this natural calamities and the rest, comprise a low paper was presented at National Conference on percentage which varies from 1.3% (natural Social Sector in India: Issues and Challenges, calamities) to 9.6% (social security and wel- March 29-30, 2013, Golden Jubilee Celebrations 2012-13, Centre of Advanced Studies, Department fare) of total social sector. It becomes pertinent Abstract of Analytical and Applied Economics, Utkal therefore to analyse whether the major expen- University, Odisha, India. Thanks are due to par- Social sector expenditure in India captures diture sectors like health and education are ticipants of this conference for their valuable a number of important aspects including performing satisfying the criteria of efficiency.