FM Sitharaman explains govt priorities in post-Budget address to RBI

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday explained the government’s priorities to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) central board during their first meeting after presentation of the Union Budget 2021-22.

The finance minister addressed the 587th RBI central board meeting and informed the members about key initiatives in the Budget and the priorities of the government, RBI said in a statement.

Complimenting the finance minister on the Budget, the board members made various suggestions for consideration of the government, it added.

“The board in its meeting reviewed the current economic situation, global and domestic challenges and various areas of operations of the Reserve Bank, including ways for strengthening grievance redress mechanism in banks,” it said.

The meeting on Tuesday was chaired by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das through video conferencing.

The government’s nominee directors on the board — Financial Services Secretary Debasish Panda and Economic Affairs Secretary Tarun Bajaj — also attended the meeting.

Finance minister holds customary meeting with the board members of the RBI and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) after Budget presentation every year.

Earlier this month, the finance minister presented a Rs 34.5 trillion Budget for 2021-22 in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Budget laid emphasis on increasing capital expenditure (capex), raising allocation for healthcare capacity building and development of agriculture infrastructure, among others, expected to have a multiplier effect on the economy.

Hit hard by the pandemic, fiscal deficit — the excess of government expenditure over its revenues — is estimated to hit a record high of 9.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the current financial year against Budget Estimates of 3.5 per cent. It was due to increased capex and including government’s dues to the Food Corporation of India.

Earlier this month, Das said the central bank will be able to manage the high quantum of government borrowings at Rs 12 trillion for the next fiscal in a “non-disruptive” manner.