Fiscal calculations may not upset the budget plans

Govt has opportunity to borrow substantially more from market without crowding private investment

The government plans to show a massive increase in public investment expenditure in Budget 2017-18 even if that means making some compromises with the fiscal deficit figures.

As the government looks to serve health, education, drinking water and sanitation sectors, the fiscal numbers can be managed and there are a few ways.

The government has the opportunity to borrow substantially more from the market than it has done in 2016-17, without crowding out private investment.

In the budget, the government is planning to differentiate between Plan and non-plan expenditure. Officers in the ministry are working to integrate the capital expenditure component of the latter to showcase a substantial jump in investment expenditure.

A dire necessity to recast the budget is visible and there are ways to do it. A full report in Business Standard gives a deep insight into the same.