RBI Cautions On Fiscal Risks Emerging From States Going To The Polls

An intention to consolidate finances at the state level could be derailed for a fourth consecutive year due to state elections, cautioned the Reserve Bank of India in its annual report on state finances. Fiscal pressures across states are already elevated with states breaching the 3 percent threshold set under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act for the third consecutive year in 2017-18.

Slippage at the state level, along with the central government’s decision to push back the goal of a 3 percent fiscal deficit, will mean a general government deficit much higher than the medium-term target, the report said.

Fiscal Slippage In 2017-18

The revised estimates for 2017-18, show that the gross fiscal deficit of states rose to 3.1 percent of GDP. This was largely due to higher revenue expenditure on farm loan waivers and pay revisions. At the same time, states’ own taxes declined due to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax but the compensation failed to keep pace, said the report.

• Gross fiscal deficit slipped by 0.35 percentage points of GDP in 2017-18.
• Revenue expenditure overshot budget estimates by 13 basis points
• Revenue receipts saw a shortfall of 27 basis points mainly due to states’ own taxes declining by 0.33 percent of GDP vis-a-vis the budget estimate.

Fiscal Consolidation In 2018-19?

Following the third consecutive year of slippage above the 3 percent threshold, states will make another attempt at consolidation in 2018-19.

“The consolidated fiscal deficit of states is budgeted at 2.6 percent of GDP in 2018-19 to be achieved through higher revenue collection and lower revenue expenditure,” said the report. States are projecting a revenue surplus of 0.2 percent of GDP in the current year as against a deficit of 0.4 percent last year.

Capital outlay across states is expected to grow slower at about 14 percent in 2018-19 as against a growth of 20 percent a year ago.

However, the RBI fears that the attempt at fiscal consolidation may be derailed by spending ahead of the upcoming state elections. Continuing farm loan waiver announcements as well as the implementation of the pay commission awards by some states are risks that the RBI flagged off.

Rising State Debt

The RBI also flagged off the risk from rising state debt, which has pushed up state borrowings from the markets.

The issuance of UDAY bonds in 2015-16 and 2016-17, farm loan waivers and the implementation of pay commission awards have led to a higher debt-to-GDP ratio of 24 percent in 2017-18. This number is seen rising further to 24.3 percent of GDP in 2018-19, with 16 states likely to see this ratio rise in the current year.

The report also highlighted rising redemption pressures for states. It explained that state borrowings increased in the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2008. Since states mostly issue bonds of 10-year maturity, these borrowings are now coming up for redemption.