Fiscal Deficit

Amid fiscal worries, govt puts PSU share sales on fast track to raise funds

As part of the stake-sale drive, an OFS in LIC is also likely to be launched "very soon"

Long road to 50 as govt moves fiscal anchor from deficit to debt-GDP ratio

A lower GDP base, subsidy pressures, geopolitical shocks and future spending commitments could make the Centre's goal of reducing debt to 50 per cent of GDP by FY31 significantly more challenging

Tamil Nadu debt nearly doubles to ₹10 trillion in five years: White paper

The TVK government's white paper said Tamil Nadu added Rs 4.87 trillion in debt over five years, while total liabilities, including guarantees and off-budget borrowings, reached Rs 13.8 trillion

18 states overshot fiscal deficit ceiling in FY25, shows CAG report

The CAG's review of state finances showed 18 states exceeded the 3 per cent fiscal deficit ceiling in FY25, while combined state liabilities continued to rise over the decade

Govt may allow wider fiscal deficit to 4.8% of GDP amid Iran war: Report

India ships in about 90 per cent of ​its oil and is one of the countries most-exposed to prolonged Iran war-related ‌disruptions to global energy supplies

Real cost of freebies is the erosion in quality of public spending

State debt and deficits do not capture the damage that doles inflict on the quality of public spending

Fertiliser subsidy bill likely to double to ₹3.4 trillion in FY27

Rising global fertiliser prices and support extended to oil retailers are squeezing fiscal space, though the government says its capital expenditure plans remain unchanged

Centre may have overshot debt-to-GDP ratio in FY26, shows Mospi data

Lower-than-expected nominal GDP growth may have pushed the Centre's debt ratio to 57.85 per cent in FY26, making its fiscal consolidation path steeper ahead

India considers budget cuts as oil price surge threatens fiscal targets

The government is wary of increasing borrowing beyond budgeted levels because additional debt issuance could push bond yields higher, officials familiar with the matter said

Best of BS Opinion: USTR tariff threats deepen trade uncertainty

From fresh US tariff threats and fiscal policy constraints to the future of television broadcasting and the legacy of Shastri Bhawan, here are today's top Opinion insights

India needs fiscal space, not just subsidies, to weather crises

If India had created more fiscal space in the three good years following the end of the Covid crisis in 2022-23, it would have more options to deal with the current one

'India's fiscal deficit may rise to 4.7% of GDP in FY27 amid West Asia war'

India's fiscal deficit may widen to 4.7 per cent of GDP in FY27 as higher oil prices, subsidy costs and revenue risks from the West Asia conflict weigh on finances, writes Aditi Nayar of ICRA

Spending cut by 50 ministries helps Centre meet FY26 fiscal deficit goal

Expenditure by 50 ministries and departments came in below revised estimates, helping the Centre contain the fiscal deficit despite lower-than-projected receipts

Govt slashes expenditure by ₹60K cr to meet fiscal deficit target in FY26

In FY26, while revenue expenditure was cut by Rs 26,636 crore, capital expenditure was reduced by Rs 33,055 crore, leading to a dip in total expenditure by Rs 59,691 crore to Rs 49 trillion

India's FY26 fiscal deficit at 4.4% of GDP, in line with govt estimates

The ‌deficit was at ​₹15.19 trillion ($159.91 billion), or 97.5% of the government's ​revised estimates presented in February

Best of BS Opinion: RBI's surplus transfer will not ease fiscal pressure

Hello and welcome to BS Opinion, a wrap of editorials and columns on today's Opinion page.

Record RBI dividend likely to provide limited fiscal support: Economists

Economists warn of fiscal slippage risks in FY27 despite RBI's record surplus transfer, citing higher subsidy burden and lower revenue growth

RBI set for record dividend transfer to govt, fiscal gap likely to persist

An expected ₹3.05 trillion handover, the midpoint of the poll, would be ‌the highest share of expected government revenue in more than two decades, excluding the fiscal year 2019-2020

IMF backs targeted relief over broad subsidies amid oil price surge

The multilateral institution has urged governments to avoid broad-based subsidies and instead adopt targeted fiscal measures to manage inflation and protect vulnerable households

Best of BS Opinion: Centre, states face strong fiscal headwinds

From Bharti Airtel's succession planning and AI-driven cyber risks to the economic fallout of the West Asia conflict and India's investment needs - here are today's top opinion pieces