Today, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the report titled “State Finances: A Study of Budgets of 2020-21”, an annual publication that provides information, analysis and an assessment of the finances of state governments for 2020-21 against the backdrop of actual and revised (or provisional accounts) outcomes for 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. The theme of this year’s Report is “COVID-19 and its Spatial Dimensions in India”.

Highlights:

• States’ consolidated gross fiscal deficit (GFD) is placed at 2.8 per cent of GDP for 2020-21; however, the COVID-19 pandemic may alter budget estimates substantially.

• The consequent rising levels of debt and guarantees pose risks to state finances, going forward.

• Sustaining the recovery from the pandemic will entail boosting investment in health care systems consistent with demographic and co-morbidity profiles; building digital infrastructure for more efficient provision of public services; upgrading the urban infrastructure; and increasing engagement of local governments.

This publication has been prepared in the Division of State Finances of the Department of Economic and Policy Research. The current issue, along with past issues of the Report, is available on the Reserve Bank’s website (www.rbi.org.in). Comments on this publication may be sent to The Director, Division of State Finances, Department of Economic and Policy Research, Reserve Bank of India, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Mumbai - 400001. Comments can also be forwarded via e-mail.

(Yogesh Dayal)     
Chief General Manager

Press Release: 2020-2021/546