New Delhi (PTI) With a focus on bettering internal security in the country, the Union Home Ministry has received a whopping 33 per cent increase in the 2009-10 General Budget over the last year's allocation.

A bulk of increase in the Home Ministry budget is because of additional allotment of funds for Central para-military forces for raising new battalions and training personnel, according to the Budget papers.

The Budget, presented in Parliament today by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, has earmarked Rs 33,809.86 crores for the Home Ministry against Rs 25,439 crores in 2008-09, showing a raise of nearly 33 per cent.

Under the head of border management, Rs 408.30 crores has been allotted for improving coastal security, maintenance of border work and setting up of new border outposts.

An additional amount of Rs 1,924.93 crores has been set aside for providing assistance to the states for modernisation of police forces, other security related expenditures, establishment of critical infrastructure in Left wing extremism-affected areas, for assistance to the counter-insurgency machinery and setting up of schools to train personnel in anti-terror operations.

Under the category for modernisation of police force, more assistance will be provided to states and UTs in the form of 100 per cent grants-in-aid.

The money will be utilised for non-recurring expenditure like purchase of vehicles, wireless equipment, computers and other sophisticated gadgets and for development of infrastructure in extremism-hit areas.

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