As coronavirus forces lockdown, govt's budgetary targets go for a toss

Divestment shortfall could be Rs 15K cr, against revised estimates of Rs 65K cr

The central government has kept aside its budgetary targets as parts of India have gone into an unprecedented lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The revised fiscal deficit target for 2019-20, of 3.8 per cent of gross domestic product, will not be met due to an expected shortfall in tax and divestment revenues, as the economy grinds to a near halt.
 
In fact, the divestment shortfall could be as much as Rs 15,000 crore, compared with the revised estimates of Rs 65,000 crore, Business Standard has learnt.
 
Even for the coming year, the Centre is expecting divestment