The government aims to shrink the gap to below 4.5% of GDP by 2025-26
The leeway to the government was given by the first Advance Estimates, which pegged GDP at current prices at Rs 273 trillion for 2022-23 as against Rs 258 trillion assumed by the FY23 Budget
Growth beyond 6% can happen, but there are constraints on both fiscal and monetary policy, which must focus on reducing the current account deficit, the fiscal deficit and inflation, writes T N Ninan
In fact, in November the fiscal deficit widened by Rs 2.2 trillion, the highest ever in any month this financial year
The government's fiscal deficit at the end of November touched 59 per cent of the full year budget estimate, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA)
From an adventurous start in 2019 to modest revenue projections last year, there has been a marked change in Ms Sitharaman's approach. T N Ninan looks at what can be expected in Budget 2023
'We'll bring inflation down further for the sake of common people', said FM Nirmala Sitharaman
Experts have requested FM Sitharaman for a cut in income tax rates, increase in expenditure, and fiscal consolidation
This means the government will stick to its fiscal consolidation road map, which envisages a deficit of 4.5 per cent of GDP by FY26
The central govt is on track to meet its fiscal deficit target of 6.4 per cent of the GDP for 2022-23 on the back of strong growth in revenue collections, the World Bank said
Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour
The net tax revenue budget estimate for FY23 was Rs 19.35 trillion; a boost of Rs 4.5 trillion would take the revised estimates to Rs 23.85 trillion
With the GDP numbers out, the deficit stood at 4.7 per cent of GDP in the first six months of FY23
The Finance Ministry was also urged to continue with long term loans to states to support their capex programs, and give them more leeway to spend, in order to boost growth
India exported $22 million worth of musical instruments and their accessories in the first half of the current fiscal year, as compared to $38.5 million in the previous year
Centre expects the gross tax revenue to be "at least" Rs 3-3.5 trillion above the FY23 target of Rs 27.6 trillion
'India's annual import cover comfortable; IMF does not consider external sector to be in a zone of vulnerability'
Instead of reducing tax rates, Budget 2023 should take steps to reverse the decline in tax buoyancy
Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today:
GDP alone isn't an adequate measure to calculate a safe level of budget deficit. Population also has to be worked into the method. It is just common sense