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What is Fiscal Deficit

Fiscal Deficit

About Fiscal Deficit

What is Fiscal Deficit

A country’s fiscal balance is measured by its government’s revenue vis-a-vis its expenditure in a given financial year. Fiscal deficit, the condition when the expenditure of the government exceeds its revenue in a year, is the difference between the two. Fiscal deficit is calculated both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
 
The fiscal deficit of a country is calculated as a percentage of its GDP or simply as the total money spent by the government in excess of its income. In either case, the income figure includes only taxes and other revenues and
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Latest Updates on Fiscal Deficit

Best of BS Opinion: RBI's surplus transfer will not ease fiscal pressure

Hello and welcome to BS Opinion, a wrap of editorials and columns on today's Opinion page.

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Updated On : 25 May 2026 | 6:30 AM IST

Record RBI dividend likely to provide limited fiscal support: Economists

Economists warn of fiscal slippage risks in FY27 despite RBI's record surplus transfer, citing higher subsidy burden and lower revenue growth

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Updated On : 22 May 2026 | 8:52 PM IST

RBI set for record dividend transfer to govt, fiscal gap likely to persist

An expected ₹3.05 trillion handover, the midpoint of the poll, would be ‌the highest share of expected government revenue in more than two decades, excluding the fiscal year 2019-2020

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Updated On : 21 May 2026 | 1:37 PM IST

IMF backs targeted relief over broad subsidies amid oil price surge

The multilateral institution has urged governments to avoid broad-based subsidies and instead adopt targeted fiscal measures to manage inflation and protect vulnerable households

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Updated On : 20 May 2026 | 10:59 PM IST

Best of BS Opinion: Centre, states face strong fiscal headwinds

From Bharti Airtel's succession planning and AI-driven cyber risks to the economic fallout of the West Asia conflict and India's investment needs - here are today's top opinion pieces

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Updated On : 20 May 2026 | 6:15 AM IST

Not just an external threat: India faces strong fiscal headwinds within

More attention needs to be paid to fiscal implications of the West Asian conflict for the Union and state governments

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Updated On : 19 May 2026 | 10:42 PM IST

Managing fiscal fallout: Govt must make the necessary adjustments

Higher fuel prices and limited gas availability are affecting economic activities, which could result in lower overall tax collection and add further pressure on the Budget

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Updated On : 12 May 2026 | 10:24 PM IST

Assam Assembly election results 2026: BJP navigates the fiscal tightrope

The party, which is set to return to power in the state, has also pledged to set up one university in each district and appoint more teachers to strengthen the education sector

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Updated On : 05 May 2026 | 12:08 AM IST

Finances stable, but freebies might hamper Tamil Nadu's fiscal maths

A similar trend is visible in the revenue deficit, as the revised estimates suggest a revenue deficit of 1.94 per cent of GSDP in FY26, up from 1.47 per cent in FY25

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Updated On : 04 May 2026 | 11:44 PM IST

BJP's promises face funding hurdles after ending TMC's 15-yr rule in Bengal

The BJP's commitments are expansive, ranging from ₹3,000 monthly transfers for women and unemployed youth to implementing the 7th Pay Commission and raising dearness allowance

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Updated On : 04 May 2026 | 11:27 PM IST

Promise and delivery: Record turnout at polls reflected demand for change

The most humbling lessons of anti-incumbency, however, came from West Bengal, where the BJP finally fulfilled its ambition of ousting Mamata Banerjee's TMC after the latter's 15 years in power

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Updated On : 04 May 2026 | 10:12 PM IST

Tight fiscal space leaves limited room for poll promises in West Bengal

West Bengal's fiscal deficit and debt remain elevated, while economic and social outcomes present a mixed picture

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Updated On : 26 Apr 2026 | 11:00 PM IST

India likely to breach budgeted fiscal deficit target for FY27: BMI

The government in 2026-27 Budget had projected a 4.3 per cent fiscal deficit, a tad lower than 4.4 per cent as per revised estimates for 2025-26

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Updated On : 22 Apr 2026 | 2:13 PM IST

Best of BS Opinion: West Asia risks, RBI stance, AI, GDP debate

From West Asia tensions and RBI policy signals to AI in drug trials, fiscal risks, GDP debates and India-China strategy, today's BS Opinion offers a wide-ranging view of key economic and geopolitical

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Updated On : 22 Apr 2026 | 6:15 AM IST

The West Asia Challenge: Govt must revisit its macroeconomic assumptions

West Asia tensions threaten India's fiscal balance, growth outlook, and external stability, forcing a rethink of macroeconomic assumptions

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Updated On : 21 Apr 2026 | 10:13 PM IST

Fiscal demands: Rising global public debt poses risk to growth outlook

As the IMF data shows, governments refinancing debt at higher interest rates have seen interest payments rise sharply over the past few years, from 2 per cent to about 3 per cent of global GDP

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Updated On : 16 Apr 2026 | 11:40 PM IST

Crude oil prices at $130 could unsettle growth outlook: S&P Global

S&P Global says crude at $130 per barrel could slow India's growth, widen fiscal deficit, raise inflation and strain corporate and banking sector performance

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Updated On : 14 Apr 2026 | 11:37 PM IST

Beyond the optics of stability, India's economy faces rising external risks

Rising oil prices and limited fiscal space heighten risks of inflation, slower growth, and macroeconomic instability as the West Asia crisis unfolds

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Updated On : 08 Apr 2026 | 10:39 PM IST

West Asia tensions likely to heighten fiscal risks, says Govinda Rao

Economist M Govinda Rao warns rising geopolitical tensions could expose India's fiscal vulnerabilities, calling for reforms in GST, deficits, and public spending

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Updated On : 06 Apr 2026 | 11:37 PM IST

CAG pulls up Odisha govt for PSU dues, flags poor budget utilisation

Audit flags over Rs 5,000 crore unpaid PSU dividends and weak budget utilisation, raising concerns over fiscal oversight and revenue mobilisation in Odisha

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Updated On : 31 Mar 2026 | 11:58 PM IST