CORRECTED - RBI chief says current account deficit unsustainable

Image
Reuters BANGALORE
Last Updated : Apr 06 2013 | 7:10 PM IST

(Corrects figure in first paragraph for sustainable deficit to 2.5 pct (not 2.75 pct)

BANGALORE (Reuters) - India's current account deficit is unsustainable at its present level of about 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), the head of the Reserve Bank of India said on Saturday, adding that a deficit of about 2.5 percent of GDP would be sustainable.

India's current account deficit hit a record $32.63 billion in the last three months of 2012, and stood at $71.7 billion for the April-December period, equivalent to 5.4 percent of GDP.

The deficit for the fiscal year that ended on March 31 is unlikely to be less than 5 percent, Duvvuri Subbarao, governor of the Reserve Bank of India, added in a speech in Bangalore.

The decision by new Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda to inject about $1.4 trillion into the Japanese economy in less than two years is seen possibly increasing capital flows into India, which should help finance the current account deficit, government officials told Reuters this week.

(Reporting by Harichandan Arakali; Writing by Henry Foy; Editing by Robert Birsel)

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Apr 06 2013 | 6:54 PM IST

Next Story