Fiscal deficit is the difference between the total income of the government and the total expenditure incurred by it.
Economists expect a moderation in growth in the capital expenditure (capex) from the highs seen in the last two financial years following the pandemic.
Of the 10 research reports by forecasting agencies that Business Standard analysed, eight expect a fiscal deficit at 5.3 per cent of the GDP for FY25, while two agencies have pegged it at 5.4 per cent.
In view of the upcoming general elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present a vote-on-account, or the next government presents an interim budget on February 1 to meet the initial expenditure until a full budget.
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Though the FY24 fiscal deficit target of 5.9 per cent of GDP faces risks from weaker than budgeted nominal GDP growth, the disinvestment shortfall and higher subsidy burden, most economists believe the target will be achieved through higher non-tax revenues and expenditure savings by key ministries.
Echoing similar sentiments, Barclays says that the higher tax and non-tax revenue collections are expected to more than offset any shortfall in disinvestment revenue and the central government is expected to comfortably achieve its fiscal deficit target of 5.9 per cent of GDP for the current financial year.
“We expect the FY24-25 budget to set a deficit target of 5.3 per cent of the GDP. This would imply, in level terms, a deficit of Rs 17.7 trillion in FY24-25, broadly similar to our forecast for FY23-24 (Rs 17.8 trillion),” it added.
However, Upasna Bhardawaj, chief economist, Kotak Mahindra Bank says that over the medium term, the central government has to aim for a sharp fiscal consolidation, while improving spending quality amid large committed expenditures.
“The FY25 interim budget could additionally include few populist measures, while targeting slower capex growth, sharper-than-usual fiscal consolidation and keeping borrowings in check. We pencil in FY25E gross fiscal deficit to GDP at 5.4 per cent,” she added.
Separately, on the capital expenditure front, the group of economists agree that since the upcoming budget will be a vote on account, it will majorly seek approvals for essential expenditure and only a broad assessment of the capital expenditure.
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“The government has been prioritising capital spending, especially for roads, railways and defence. We expect this focus to continue, albeit at a moderate pace. We project FY25 capital expenditure to rise 20 per cent. We also do not rule out trimming of the budgeted allocation for the interest free 50-year loan to the states from the Centre by Rs 300 billion,” said Elara Capital Securities in a report.
“We expect the government to stick to its capex target of Rs 10 trillion in FY24 and raise it further by Rs 10 per cent to Rs 11 trillion in FY 25,” said Care Ratings.
Aditi Nayar, the chief economist at Icra Ratings expects the interim budget to set the disinvestment target below Rs 50,000 crore for FY25, instead of a higher aim as it may disrupt the budget math if there is a large shortfall in such receipts by the end of the fiscal, based on the past year trends.
“For FY24, the Centre had set a disinvestment target of Rs 51,000 crore but has only been able to meet around one-fifth (Rs 10,050 crore) of it so far. Strategic sales of a host of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) are in the pipeline for completion in the current fiscal. Icra anticipates a shortfall of Rs Rs 36,000 crore in the disinvestment target of FY24,” she added.
On the expenditure front, some economists believe support measures to address near-term risks for rural/farming communities.
“Targeted support by way of transfers to make up for output losses due to weather, higher farm insurance outlays, boost to disbursements towards rural employment schemes, irrigation facilities, might be tapped,” said Radhika Rao, senior economist, DBS Bank.
First Published: Jan 21 2024 | 8:29 PM IST
