Finmin releases handbook on government debt

Total debt of govt increased by 6.7% in the second quarter ended Sept 2013 of FY14

The Finance Ministry today released a document detailing government debt and issuance of securities over the past ten years.

"This first issue of the Handbook presents time-series data covering outstanding debt, primary issuance of bills and bonds, and secondary market transactions in government securities. The data goes back to at least 10 years," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said in the foreword of the handbook.

The government had set up the Middle Office (MO) in the Ministry of Finance after the 2007-08 budget to establish an independent Debt Management Office.

"I trust the Handbook will be useful for financial market entities, policy makers, research scholars, and the general public in understanding and analyzing issues relating to debt and liabilities of the central government.

Continual efforts will be made for improvement in the coverage, content and timely dissemination of data. Any comments/suggestions to improve the quality of data and transparency are welcome," the release said which was signed by Chidambaram.

One of its major functions is to disseminate detailed information on public debt. This is the first edition of the Handbook. The data in the Handbook will be updated on an annual basis, it added further.

The total debt of the government increased by 6.7% in the second quarter ended September 2013 of FY14.

The total public debt (excluding liabilities under the Public Account) of the government increased to Rs 45,80,472 crore at end-September 2013 from Rs 42,92,870 crore at end-June 2013.

The total public debt at the end of 2012-13 stood at Rs 40,66,605 crore.