State Finances

Weak tax collections in October pushed Bihar's fiscal deficit to three times the FY26 budget estimate in seven months, with pre-poll spending adding pressure

Cash transfers to women need a wider debate

Cities are crumbling, but the local bodies that govern them remain powerless

CAG report shows pensions overtook interest costs in FY23 as states spent 43% of revenue on committed expenditure, including salaries, pensions, and debt servicing

Bank and financial institution support for projects stayed high in FY25, with Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh among the top states driving nearly 60 per cent of total project costs

The data suggests that of all states and Union Territories, 12 had their debt-to-GSDP ratio higher than 35 per cent in 2023-24, while around 24 had their debt above 20 per cent

The NITI NCAER States Economic Forum portal aims to enhance data accessibility and provide valuable insights into India's economic landscape at the state level

Rising costs, especially due to women's welfare schemes are straining state finances, forcing governments to cut spending, reassess policies, and even drop some existing schemes

The Jharkhand government will initiate legal action to realise its "Rs 1.36 lakh crore dues" pending with the Centre, Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore informed the assembly on Monday. Kishore made the assertion while presenting the state budget of Rs 1.45 lakh crore in the House. Earlier, during Question Hour, Excise Minister Yogendra Prasad, however, said that a joint committee has been formed comprising representatives of the Centre and the state to evaluate the exact outstanding amount. The state government has been claiming for several years that the Centre owes Rs 1.36 lakh crore to the state in lieu of coal mined by entities such as Coal India Ltd. "A joint committee of the Centre and the state has been formed on March 1 this year. The panel will assess the state's claim of Rs 1.36 lakh crore coal dues and verify the outstanding in every head. We will realise the amount as per the committee report," Prasad said in the assembly in reply to a query. The government's reply

The Himachal Pradesh government raised milk procurement prices from Rs 38 to Rs 45 and that of buffalo milk from Rs 38 to Rs 55 per litre this April

These state-specific fiscal vulnerabilities need appropriate policy considerations to enable sustainable fiscal recovery and innovative ways to augment the revenue space

Mahayuti govt faces scrutiny as schemes like Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana strain fiscal resources amid rising unemployment and prices of food items

NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said he never called for the closure of madrassas but recommended state funding to these institutions be stopped as they are depriving poor Muslim children of education. He said that Muslim children from improverished backgrounds are often pressured into religious schooling over secular education. We advocate for equitable educational opportunities for all children. In a recent report, the apex child rights body, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) raised serious concerns about the state of functioning in madrassas and called for stopping the state funding unless they comply with the Right to Education Act. Responding to the functioning of the madrassas, Kanoongo criticised certain groups within the country for "fearing" the empowerment of the poor Muslim community. "There exists a faction in our nation that dreads the empowerment of Muslims. Their fear stems from the anticipation that empowered communities will demand .

The CAG last week raised concerns over unclassified expenditures, questioning state finance secretaries over 'hidden' funds marked for various handouts

Share of biofuel will be 50% of fossil fuels in five years, says minister

Indivjal Dhasmana looks at finances of major civic bodies to analyse why they are underprepared perennially

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Thursday sought special central grants for Chhattisgarh, citing its large tribal population, challenging geographical conditions and Naxal activities in parts of the state, at a meeting held with a delegation of the 16th Finance Commission, said a government official. He stressed that additional financial resources are necessary to bring Chhattisgarh, which came into existence in November 2000, on par with developed states, said the official. During the meeting here with the delegation of the central panel led by its chairman Arvind Panagariya, Sai highlighted that Chhattisgarh is a newly-formed state with a large tribal population and faces challenging geographical conditions. It is also affected by Naxal activities, the CM told the delegation, according to the official. The Chief Minister informed the commission about rapid development works being carried out in Naxal-affected areas and effective measures being taken to curb Maoist activities, he

Amount higher than scheduled figure of Rs 32,532 crore, a first in seven weeks

Karnataka politician DK Suresh threatened a call for separate nationhood for southern states after accusing the Centre of disproportionately distributing share of GST and direct tax funds

India's overall inflation rate is higher than all the advanced economies