20 states spent 27% of capital expenditure in April-August: CAG data

States spent 27% of FY26 budgeted capex in April-August, with Telangana leading and Tripura lagging, even as rising borrowings raise fiscal concerns

States spent 27 per cent of their budgeted capital expenditure during April-August period of the financial year 2025-2026 (FY26), rising by 13.6 per cent year-on-year, an analysis of monthly account reports of 20 states by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) showed. 

 

Of the 20 states, data for which is available, 16 states spent less than 30 per cent of their budget estimates (BEs) for capex in the first five months of FY26. Telangana led the group of 20 states by utilising the highest proportion of its BE, spending 39.28 per cent. Following closely were Kerala (38.82 per