Page 5 - Fiscal Deficit

Fiscal deficit touches 74.5% of full year target at end-Jan, shows CGA data

In actual terms, the fiscal deficit -- the gap between expenditure and revenue -- was Rs 11,69,542 crore during the April-January 2024-25 period

Reducing fiscal deficit to around 3% of GDP difficult: Govt to IMF

The report further noted that both the IMF and the government saw a need for medium-term fiscal consolidation but considered targeting a more gradual pace of adjustment to be appropriate

Union Budget balances fiscal and growth objectives, says RBI report

According to the report, the budget reaffirms the government's commitment to fiscal discipline while fostering inclusive, long-term economic growth in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat

Debt-to-GDP over fiscal deficit: Will FM Sitharaman's strategy pay off?

Since the finance minister announced a glide path based on debt-to-GDP ratio to measure fiscal deficit, opinion has been divided on the move since it would also reflect on government borrowings

Fiscal, monetary measures to boost consumption, pvt investment, says FM

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said fiscal and monetary measures announced recently will help boost consumption and promote private investment. The Budget presented by the Finance Minister on February 1 proposed a slew of measures including significant income tax cuts for the middle class. Individuals earning up to Rs 12.75 lakh in a year will not have to pay any taxes, benefiting 1 crore taxpayers. On the monetary side, the Reserve Bank on Friday slashed the policy rate by 25 basis points, the first rate cut in five years to support growth. "After the Budget, the few inputs I've had from some business leaders is that the orders for fast-moving consumer goods for April-June are already getting booked, and the industry is clearly seeing signs of a possible recovery of consumption," she said at a media interaction after addressing the Board of the RBI in the customary post-budget meeting. As a result, she said, many of them are looking at reviewing their capacity ...

Best of BS Opinion: How policy moves can trigger a cascading effect

Our editorials and columns look at the consequences of policy actions, and how they can have far-reaching impacts

Prudent fiscal management likely to soften G-sec yields: DEA secretary Seth

The government's prudent fiscal management may soften government securities yields and leave more funds for corporates to invest in the economy, DEA Secretary Ajay Seth has said. In absolute terms, he said, "we will be borrowing (for FY26) less than what we intend to borrow in the current year. Even the gross borrowings are also marginally more than what it was, signalling that the government will leave enough into the market for the private sector to pick up". The government has reduced its borrowings estimate for next financial year to Rs 11.54 lakh crore on net basis as it expects an improvement in tax collection. However, gross market borrowings have now been revised upward to Rs 14.82 lakh crore from Rs 14.01 lakh crore estimated for the current financial year. The government has to borrow by issuing dated securities to meet its fiscal deficit target. "So, I see that the fiscal consolidation this year and fiscal consolidation road map next year should rather soften the ...

Budget non-inflationary, focuses on fiscal prudence: Finance secy Pandey

Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Tuesday said the government has taken measures to lower fiscal deficit and delivered a non-inflationary Budget, and hoped that the RBI's monetary policy will work in tandem with fiscal policy to support growth. He also said that although rupee depreciation increases inflation on imported inputs, it also adds to export competitiveness. Pandey said that the government has bettered its fiscal deficit projections for the current fiscal as well as the next. The fiscal deficit for FY'25 has been pegged lower at 4.8 per cent of GDP, lower than budgeted 4.9 per cent, while for FY'26 the deficit is projected to be 4.4 per cent, lower than what was given in the consolidation roadmap. "It is very important to be very clear that we (government) have to remain within a certain fiscal regime. We have, to that extent, aided the monetary authorities to say that if they (RBI) have to do what they have to do, we are supportive. The fiscal policy and monetary ..

Best of BS Opinion: Union Budget 2025 aims to clear multiple hurdles

From nuclear power generation to agri reforms, from a noisy middle class to central bank's moves on interest rates, the government must jump over many obstacles to achieve its objectives

Budget 2025: Focused on fiscal discipline, growth, and tax relief

Overall, the government has taken a disciplined approach in this Budget, keeping long-term benefits in mind

Budget ready reckoner: Mkt borrowings' share declines, Centre's capex up

Reduction in sovereign debt-to-GDP ratio requires a decline in fiscal deficit in proportion to GDP

A pro-growth Union Budget 2025-26 marked by coherence and consistency

The Budget represents a continuation and an acceleration of the government's multi-pronged economic development strategy

Union Budget 2025-26: Fiscal deficit broadly in line with expectations

Revenue spending growth of 6.7 per cent is somewhat higher than our forecast

Budget 2025 Highlights: Here's the latest on capex, fiscal deficit and debt

India's Union Budget for FY26 has set total government expenditure at ₹50.65 trillion, marking an increase from ₹47.16 trillion in the revised estimates for 2024-25

Market Today: Budget 2025; Fiscal Deficit; Trump tariffs; Gold; SMID stocks

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present her eighth consecutive budget today. This will also be the second budget under the third term of the Modi administration

Fiscal deficit for April-Dec at 56.7% of full-year target, shows data

Net tax receipts for the first nine months of the current financial year were at Rs 18.43 trillion

Economic Survey 2024-25: Key highlights and challenges the CEA presents

India's economy is expected to grow between 6.3 per cent and 6.8 per cent in FY26. Chief Economic Adviser believes India is on a steady growth path while globalisation is slowing down

Budget may project 20% capex growth, 4.4% fiscal deficit: EY report

The FY26 Budget may project a 20 per cent increase in capex spending to drive economic activity, leave more disposable income in the hands of people and target a fiscal deficit of 4.4 per cent of GDP for the fiscal ending March 2026, a EY report said on Thursday. EY India Chief Policy Advisor DK Srivastava said amid continuing global uncertainties, India may have to rely largely on domestic demand drivers to support the growth momentum. "The FY26 budget should therefore restore the momentum of growth in GoI's capital expenditure. This may be supplemented by some rate rationalisation and income tax deductions aimed at increasing personal disposable incomes, particularly in the hands of lower income and lower middle-income groups," he said. The upcoming budget must balance fiscal prudence with growth-oriented measures. Increasing capital expenditure and putting more disposable income in the hands of consumers, particularly urban consumers, will be pivotal to uplifting growth in domes

Govt to tighten fiscal purse despite slowing economic growth: Reuters poll

An expected fiscal deficit of 4.5% of gross domestic product represents a slight tightening of the purse compared with the fiscal year about to end, at 4.8%

Explained: What is fiscal deficit and what it means for economic stability

As of January 2025, India's fiscal deficit for FY25 is projected at 4.9 per cent of GDP, amounting to approximately Rs 16.1 trillion