The fiscal deficit of the Central government has widened in the first half of 2018-19 to 95.3% of the Budget Estimate (BE), mainly on account of slow growth in revenue collections. The deficit was at 91.3% of BE at September-end of the last financial year.

The Government of India has received Rs.7,09,483 crore (39.03% of corresponding BE 18-19 of Total Receipts) upto September, 2018 comprising Rs. 5,82,783 crore Tax Revenue (Net to Centre), Rs. 1,08,969 crore of Non-Tax Revenue and Rs.17,731 crore of Non-Debt Capital Receipts. Non-Debt Capital Receipts consists of Recovery of Loans (Rs.7,786 crore) and Disinvestment of PSUs (Rs. 9,945 crore).

Rs. 3,22,189 crore has been transferred to State Governments as Devolution of Share of Taxes by the Government of India up to this period which is Rs. 33,093 crore higher than the corresponding period of last year 2017-18.

Total Expenditure incurred by Government of India is Rs.13,04,215 crore (53.40% of corresponding BE 18-19), out of which Rs.11,41,586 crore is on Revenue Account and Rs.1,62,629 crore is on Capital Account. Out of the total Revenue Expenditure, Rs.2,55,432 crore is on account of Interest Payments and Rs.1,88,291 crore is on account of Major Subsidies.