April-August fiscal deficit 78.7% of Rs 7.04 trillion FY20 target

The country's fiscal deficit touched Rs 5.54 trillion at the end of August, which was 78.7 per cent of the Budget Estimate for 2019-20, official data showed on Monday.

In absolute terms, the fiscal deficit or the gap between expenditure and revenue was Rs 5,53,840 crore as on August 31, according to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

The deficit was at 86.5 per cent of the 2018-19 Budget Estimate (BE) in corresponding month a year ago.

The government has pegged the fiscal deficit for the current financial year at Rs 7.03 trillion, while aiming to restrict the deficit