FE Editorial : Getting to 5.3%
The Financial Express: Jan 29 2013, 00:24 IST
As RBI decides on whether to go for a 25 bps or a 50 bps repo cut later today—“the balance of macroeconomic risks suggest continuation of the calibrated stance while increasingly focussing on growth risks”—a critical input will be its view on the fiscal deficit. So if the finance minister is actually able to deliver a 5.3% fiscal deficit as he has been promising on his roadshows, as compared to the consensus view it will be around 5.8% of GDP, this will go a long way in addressing RBI’s fears—and increase the chances of more rate cuts after the budget. Sticking to the revised 5.3% target will also help convince investors India is back on a growth path as it was the fiscal profligacy of the past few years that is largely responsible for the fall in savings and therefore investment in the country.
Given how gross tax collections rose just 15.1% in April-November as compared to the budget target of 19.5% and the big slippage on the telecom auctions (R9,400 crore so far versus the target of R40,000 crore) and on disinvestment receipts (R6,925 crore so far versus the R30,000 crore target), it’s difficult to see how the finance minister can possibly achieve his target. Yet, some clear trends are worth focusing on. Delaying subsidy payments—oil PSUs haven’t got the full payments for even Q1 and this was received only this month—has ensured such outgo rose just 6.4% between October and November and just 4.3% the month before; these payments
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