State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2024-25 (Fiscal Reforms by States) Report released by RBI | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2024-25 (Fiscal Reforms by States) Report released by RBI

Posted 20 Dec 2024

2 min read

Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the fiscal position of State governments covering the period 2022-23 (actuals) to 2024-25 (budget estimates) with focus on ‘Fiscal Reforms by States’. 

Overview of the Fiscal position of the States

  • Gross Fiscal Deficit (GFD): 2.9% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in 2023-24 compared to 2.7% (2022-23). 
    • GFD is the difference between total expenditure (Revenue and Capital) and the Revenue receipts including the Non-debt creating capital receipts
  • Revenue Receipt: Declined marginally in 2022-23, due to lower tax devolution, etc.  
    • It refers to non-redeemable receipts that do not lead to a claim on the government.
  • Capital expenditure: Improved further with capital outlay increasing to 2.6% of GDP in 2023-24 from 2.2 per cent in 2022-23.
    • It refers to expenditure that leads to creation of physical/financial assets. 
  • Overall Debt: Declined to 28.5% of GDP (March 2024) from 31.8% GDP (March 2004) 
    • Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Review Committee (2017) recommends it to 20%

Key Reforms taken by the States

  • Institutional reforms:  Setting up of State Institutions of transformation under State Support Mission of NITI Aayog, etc. 
  • Expenditure Reforms: Use of Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). 
    • E.g., States like Telangana is implementing Rythu Bandhu scheme through DBT.
  • Borrowing Reforms: Increased shift towards market borrowings in the financing of GFD from 17% in 2005-06 to 79% in 2024-25 (BE)

Key Recommendations

  • Rationalisation of Subsidies: Like on Electricity, farm loan waivers, etc. to avoid crowding out of more productive expenditure. 
  • Rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes: To free up budgetary space for state-specific expenditure. 
  • Others: Debt Consolidation, Timely data availability, Adoption of Climate Budgeting, Outcome budgeting, etc. 
  • Tags :
  • State Finances
  • Fiscal Reforms By States
  • RBI Report On Fiscal Reforms
  • Fiscal Position Of States
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)
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