Centre's fiscal deficit touches 41.9 per cent of full-year target at the end of August
30 September 2026
The Controller General of Accounts released the Centre's accounts for April-August of 2026-27 on Wednesday.
The fiscal deficit stood at Rs 7,10,249 crore, or 41.9 per cent of the full-year target.
The full-year target is 4.3 per cent of GDP, or Rs 16.96 lakh crore.
Net tax revenue was Rs 8.38 lakh crore, or 29.2 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
Total expenditure was Rs 20.78 lakh crore, or 38.9 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
In April-August of 2025-26 the deficit was 38.1 per cent of the Budget Estimate.
In plain words
Fiscal deficit Total expenditure minus total receipts excluding borrowings — It is the amount the government must borrow in a year.
CGA Controller General of Accounts — The Finance Ministry's principal accounting adviser, which publishes monthly Union accounts.
BE Budget Estimate — The figure for a year projected in the Union Budget.