Centre keeps borrowing programme unaltered at Rs 4.34 trillion in H2

In the first half that ended in September, the government borrowed Rs 7.66 trillion at an average yield of 5.82 per cent

In a relief to the bond market, the government has kept its full-year borrowing limit unchanged at Rs 12 trillion. It believes that revenue pick-up will compensate for its expenditure, even if it has to announce a stimulus package.

The second half borrowing programme will be Rs 4.34 trillion. This is 36.16 per cent of the total borrowing planned by the Centre. In the first half ended September, the government had borrowed Rs 7.66 trillion at an average yield of 5.82 per cent. This included Rs 68,000 crore exercised during the past 18 auctions.

The temporary ways and means advances for the