GOVT LOWERS FISCAL DEFICIT TARGET TO 4.9%

To focus on debt-to-GDP ratio post FY26

Buoyed by improvement in revenue collection, the government has lowered the fiscal deficit target to 4.9 per cent for the current financial year as against 5.1 per cent estimated in February's interim Budget.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, however, retained the fiscal deficit estimate at 4.5 per cent for   2025-26 as announced in February.

"For the year 2024-25, the total receipts other than borrowings and the total expenditure are estimated at Rs 32.07 lakh crore and Rs 48.21 lakh crore, respectively. The net tax receipts are estimated at Rs 25.83 lakh crore. The fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.9 per cent of GDP," she said while presenting the Budget in Lok Sabha.