Meeting fiscal deficit target a tough task, says Mayaram

But there are signs that the economy is picking up, adds Arvind Mayaram

Admitting that achieving the fiscal deficit target of 4.1 per cent of gross domestic product was a "tough task", Finance Secretary Arvind Mayaram on Monday said the government would be able to meet it, as there were "clear signs" of the economy picking up, leading to buoyancy in revenue realisation.

"We will contain fiscal deficit at 4.1 per cent. It is a tough task... There are clear signs of economy picking up, the government has taken very large number of bold decisions, the Budget has been very well received. We will see the buoyancy in revenue coming up," Mayaram said.

On the deficit zooming to 56 per cent of the Budget 2014-15 target in the first quarter (April-June) itself, Mayaram said: "In certain months, the government expenditure is higher. In those months, it is not necessary that revenues will also be higher. For instance, you know taxes are collected in certain periodical manner. So taxes...may come in September and expenditure may be in May."

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Budget speech had announced a host of measures, including hiking tax exemption limit, incentives for the housing sector and relief in indirect taxes on auto and other sectors to promote industrial output and boost growth. After remaining at sub-five per cent in last two financial years, economic growth in 2014-15 is estimated to be between 5.4 and 5.9 per cent.