In first 6 months, fiscal deficit at 95.3% of Rs 6.24-trn full-year target

Govt looks set to overshoot 3.3% mark

The central government’s fiscal deficit touched 95.3 per cent of its full-year target of Rs 6.24 trillion in the first half the current financial year (April to September), data from the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) showed. The fiscal health over these months is slightly worse than the year-ago period when the deficit stood at 91.3 per cent. 

Meeting the fiscal deficit target of 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) will be challenging as indirect tax collections came in below expectations, disinvestment proceeds were lacklustre and the Centre has released 90 per cent of its full year fuel