Fiscal Slippage

Why is it in the news?
  • The Reserve Bank of India warned of the rising risks to fiscal consolidation of the states.
  • The state finances are saddled with farm loan waivers, income support schemes and the Uday bonds for their power distribution companies.
More in the news
  • The remarks were made during a meeting between the members of the 15th Finance Commission and the RBI.
  • The RBI said the UDAY scheme, recent income support schemes of the government and farm loan waivers could drive fiscal slippage in the revised estimate for 2018-19.
  • In the Interim Budget presented in February, the government announced a cash transfer scheme, for small and marginal farmers with landholdings of up to two hectare, of ₹6,000.
  • The government had allocated ₹75,000 crore towards the scheme for financial year 2020.
  • The RBI also stressed the "importance of states has increased" with the shift in composition of government finances.
  • It also said the outstanding debt as percentage of GDP has been rising despite moderation in interest payment as percentage of revenue receipts.
Source
The Hindu.




Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 9th May 2019