Archive · 1 Oct 2026
India’s Fiscal Deficit Reaches 41.9% of FY27 Target
The government collects money and also spends money on public needs.
A fiscal deficit happens when it spends more than it receives, excluding borrowings.
India’s deficit reached about Rs 7.1 lakh crore in the first five months of 2026-27.
This was 41.9 per cent of the amount planned for the entire year.
The full-year deficit target is Rs 16.96 lakh crore.
The government collected about Rs 8.38 lakh crore in net taxes by August.
It spent about Rs 20.78 lakh crore during the same period.
Both the deficit and spending accounted for a larger share of their yearly targets than they did a year earlier.
India’s fiscal deficit reached Rs 7,10,249 crore during April-August 2026.
The deficit represented 41.9 per cent of the full-year 2026-27 target.
The Centre’s full-year deficit target is Rs 16.96 lakh crore, or 4.3 per cent of GDP.
Net tax revenue stood at approximately Rs 8.38 lakh crore, or 29.2 per cent of the annual estimate.
Total expenditure reached about Rs 20.78 lakh crore, or 38.9 per cent of the annual estimate.
- Who
- The Central government, with figures released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
- What
- The fiscal deficit reached Rs 7,10,249 crore, or 41.9 per cent of the full-year 2026-27 target.
- When
- Between April and August 2026; the figures were released on Wednesday.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The deficit represents the gap between the government’s expenditure and receipts, excluding borrowings.
- Fiscal deficit
- Rs 7,10,249 crore during April-August 2026
- Share of annual target
- 41.9 per cent of the 2026-27 full-year target
- Full-year deficit target
- Rs 16.96 lakh crore, or 4.3 per cent of GDP
- Net tax revenue
- Approximately Rs 8.38 lakh crore, equal to 29.2 per cent of the annual estimate
- Total expenditure
- Approximately Rs 20.78 lakh crore, equal to 38.9 per cent of the annual estimate
- Previous-year comparison
- The deficit represented 38.1 per cent, net tax revenue 28.6 per cent, and expenditure 37.1 per cent of their respective annual estimates during the same period of 2025-26
