Budget
The government budget is an essential tool for any economy to function. It is the financial statement that outlines the government’s estimated receipts and spending for a given fiscal year. It is an indicator of the government’s priorities and how it plans to finance its activities. Let’s take a closer look at what goes into the government budget, the types of deficits, and the implications of the government budget on the economy.
Timing, Process and Size
The fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 in India. The finance minister presents the Union Budget in Parliament on the last working day of February. The budget consists of two parts. In part A, the minister presents the economic survey of the fiscal year gone by. This is the ministry’s view on the annual economic development of the country and it forms the backdrop for the presentation of the budget for the new fiscal year in part B of the speech.
The finance minister submits the Annual financial statement which consists of the estimated receipts and spending, which are operated through three separate accounts; The consolidated Fund, Contingency Fund, Public Account. For the fiscal year 2010-11, the total budget expenditure and the tax, non-tax and other revenue receipts accounted for about 14 percent and 9.5% of India’s GDP respectively.
Expenditure, Revenue and Deficit
All the expenditures incurred on the functioning of the judiciary, maintaining law and order, routine administration, salaries, subsidies, pensions for the administrative staff, and payment on past debts are classified as Revenue expenditures. Capital expenditures, on the other hand, include asset creating expenditures for providing public goods such as dams, bridges, and roads, and plants and machinery built for use in the government sector.
Government receipts are also classified into revenue receipts and capital receipts. Revenue receipts include tax receipts and non-tax receipts such as stamp duties, fees, and dividends, if any from PSU’s. Capital receipts, on the other hand, include grants received and loans recovered by the government, and occasional disinvestment proceeds earned by selling PSU’s. They are called non-debt capital receipts.
Despite the collection of revenue receipts and non-debt capital receipts, the government may still fall short of financing all its expenditures. In fact, lower tax and non-revenue receipts as a percentage of GDP do not really mean that government interference in the economy is low. It could mean that the government is inefficient in collecting revenue in relation to its expenditures. Therefore, borrowing is a capital receipt, albeit, a debt-creating capital receipt. The government has three choices for generating debt capital receipts; borrowing domestically from the public, borrowing from external financial institutions, or under extreme conditions, borrowing from the central bank of the country. These three forms of borrowing are undertaken by selling new government securities or bonds.
Types of Deficit
Economists consider three kinds of deficits for measuring prudent handling of government finances. The first is the revenue deficit, which measures the difference between revenue expenditure and revenue receipts. A deficit of this kind shows the management of government finances in a poor light, for it shows that the government has to borrow money to finance administrative activities that do not lead to the creation of any assets.
The second type of deficit is the Fiscal deficit, which refers to the difference between the government’s total expenditure and the total non-debt receipts. In short, this indicates that the government has exhausted all options for financing its expenditure, and the recourse left is to borrow. This Fiscal deficit shows the total debt generated by the government to finance the total budget expenditure. Such a deficit is justified as long as the expenditures are being incurred to finance activities leading to the creation of national assets.
Yet another deficit that is considered by an incumbent government is the Primary deficit. Primary deficit is defined as the difference between the government’s expenditure and non-interest income. This measure is useful as it excludes interest payments on previous debts, providing a clearer picture of the government’s current fiscal position. Primary deficit is important because it indicates the government’s ability to fund its current spending needs without increasing its debt load.
Governments use various strategies to reduce their primary deficits, including reducing spending, increasing revenue, and borrowing less. However, reducing primary deficits is not always easy, as it often requires unpopular policy decisions, such as cuts to public services or tax increases.
In summary, primary deficit is an important measure of a government’s fiscal health, as it indicates the government’s ability to fund its current spending needs without increasing its debt load. Reducing primary deficits requires difficult policy decisions, but it is essential for ensuring sustainable government finances in the long run.
Implication on Indian Economy
The government budget and deficits have significant implications on the Indian economy. When the government spends more than it earns through revenue, it creates a deficit, which can lead to borrowing and debt accumulation. This, in turn, can lead to higher interest rates and inflation, which can have negative effects on the overall economy.
However, deficits can also be used to stimulate economic growth by increasing spending on infrastructure, education, and other areas that can lead to long-term growth. This can lead to job creation, increased productivity, and overall economic expansion.
In India, managing deficits has been a challenge, with the country often running fiscal deficits. The government has used a combination of measures to manage these deficits, including reducing expenditures, increasing revenues through tax reforms, and implementing fiscal discipline.
Another key aspect of the government budget is the allocation of resources towards specific sectors. This can have a significant impact on economic growth and development. For example, increased spending on infrastructure can boost economic growth by improving transportation, communication, and energy networks, while investment in education and health can increase productivity and improve the standard of living for citizens.
Overall, the government budget and deficits play a crucial role in shaping the Indian economy, and careful management of these factors is essential for long-term sustainable growth.
