Page 2 - Fiscal Policy

China's stimulus measures not enough, says Yellen and IMF chief economist

Gourinchas told a news conference on the IMF's latest forecasts that China's fiscal stimulus measures so far lacked detail and therefore were not included in the IMF's China growth outlook

Kerala to host conclave of 5 opposition-led states to discuss fiscal issues

Kerala will host a conclave of five opposition-ruled states--four from South India and Punjab from the North--to discuss how to ensure their fiscal needs are addressed in the upcoming 16th Finance Commission, state Finance Minister K N Balagopal said on Thursday. Besides the Left-ruled Kerala and AAP-governed Punjab, the states that will take part in the conclave are Tamil Nadu (DMK) and the Congress-ruled states of Karnataka and Telangana. The move by the Left government is seen as an effort to bring together the opposition-ruled states to strengthen their bargaining position with the BJP-ruled Centre. Last year, the state had filed a suit in the Supreme Court against the Centre for imposing limits on its borrowing capacity. Balagopal said that the conclave, which will be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on September 12, aims to 'protect and strengthen' the cooperative and fiscal federalism of the country. Besides himself, Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and .

Revamped strategy for India's fiscal architecture in post-pandemic times

India's post-pandemic fiscal architecture should be anchored in debt and be holistic (encompassing Centre and states), dynamic (responsive to changing macro conditions), and conservative

Flexible fiscal targets

India needs a sustainable and clear framework

April-June fiscal deficit at Rs 1.36 trillion, 8.1% of 2024-25 target

Total government expenditure during the period was Rs 9.7 trillion, or about 20.4 per cent of the annual goal, lower than the Rs 10.51 trillion in the same period last year

New fiscal policy questions

India needs a fiscal road map consistent with the objectives of faster debt reduction

Strong fiscal position likely to enhance India's growth, says ADB

Asian Development Bank keeps FY25 growth projection unchanged at 7%

Short debt's share in total external debt down 2.1 percentage points: RBI

The ratio of short-term debt to foreign exchange reserves declined to 19.0 per cent at end-March 2024 from 22.2 per cent at end-March 2023

World Bank working paper advocates increased devolution for Panchayats

Empowering ward members (WMs) within village councils, who currently lack financial resources and act merely as rubber stamps, is another recommendation

Ratings and reforms

Fiscal position should be improved with sustained growth

Borrowing to consume

Consumption-based borrowing by the household sector makes investment capital even more expensive

The state of state budgets

With states expected to push the reforms agenda, a mechanism is needed for assessing their budget data

Centre must be concerned with fiscal mismanagement of states: Supreme Court

Fiscal mismanagement by states is an issue the union government has to be concerned about as it impacts the nation's economy, the Supreme Court observed on Wednesday and advised the Centre and the Kerala government to iron out their differences a cap on net borrowing by the southern state. The apex court made the observation while it was hearing a suit filed by the Kerala government accusing the Union of India of interfering in the exercise of its "exclusive, autonomous and plenary powers" to regulate the state's finances by imposing a ceiling on borrowing. The dialogue between the Centre and the state must not stop merely because of the pending suit, the court said while stressing on the need to resolve the issue. "Let all the senior officials who are capable to take decision and who are already involved in decision making sit together and resolve this," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan said. The Kerala government had told the top court on February 19 that a ...

External exposure

Foreign flows will demand strong fiscal management

White Paper on Indian economy tabled: Tracks 'Fragile 5' to 'Top 5' journey

Within hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising his predecessor Manmohan Singh in the Rajya Sabha, the White Paper criticised almost all aspects of the UPA rule under Singh

India's Interim Budget represents responsible fiscal management: USISPF

Commending Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her consistency and focus on growth in her interim Budget, a US-based India-centric business advocacy group has said that it represents a welcome statement of responsible fiscal management in an election year. The US-India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) also commend the government's continued focus on the trinity of infrastructure, inclusive growth, and fiscal prudence in line with growing US-India commercial ties. The interim Budget was presented on February 1 by Sitharaman. As an interim, pre-election budget with no major policy pronouncements, it represents a welcome statement of responsible fiscal management in an election year, the USISPF said in a statement. General elections are expected to be held in India between April and May. According to budget projections, the fiscal deficit for the upcoming financial year (2025) will narrow to 5.1 per cent and GDP growth will remain between 6-7 per cent GDP. On the expendi

Interim Budget: Gross market borrowing music to ears of bond market

In the current year, the gross market borrowings are estimated at Rs 15.4 trillion, and the net borrowing at Rs 11.8 trillion - the highest-ever government borrowing programme

Interim Budget 2024-25: 'Commitment to fiscal prudence and growth'

India has emerged as one of the most preferred destinations for global investors

Interim Budget 2024: 'A transformative yet prudent financial statement'

Overall, the government has presented a forward-looking Budget with enough assurances to trust it to lay down the roadmap through the full Budget and sticking to GDP

Interim Budget: 'Fiscally prudent, growth-promoting pronouncement'

The underlying nominal GDP growth assumption of 10.5 per cent for the Budget and tax collection estimates are realistic