Status Paper on Government Debt

Status Paper on Government Debt

Question: Which edition of the Status Paper on Government is released by Central Government recently?
(a) 7th
(b) 8th
(c) 11th
(d) 20th
Answer: (b)
Related facts:

  • The Central Government released the 8th Edition of the Status Paper on the Government Debt on 18th January, 2019. This provides a detailed analysis of the Overall Debt Position of the Government of India.
  • The Central Government has been bringing-out an Annual Status Paper on Government Debt since 2010-11.
  • This paper enhances transparency by providing a detailed account of debt operations during the year and an assessment of the health of the public debt portfolio based on internationally accepted debt performance indicators.
  • The paper also covers details of fiscal deficit financing operations of the Central Government during the year 2017-18.
  • The overall liabilities of the Central Government are on a medium-term declining trajectory and Government’s Debt Portfolio is characterised by prudent risk profile. Government is primarily resorting to market linked borrowings for financing its fiscal deficit.

The report facts:

  • Total debts of Central government has increased to Rs. 82.03 lakh crore from Rs. 79.80 lakh crore previously. In the last four-and-half years of NDA government, it has increased to 49 per cent of total which was Rs. 54.90 lakh crore in June 2014.
  • The Total Debt is the sum total of Public Debt and other liabilities. Public debt further includes external and internal debts.
  • The Public Debt increased from Rs. 71.25 lakh crore to Rs. 73.22 lakh crore as compared to the last findings contributing majorly to the total debts.
  • The Total Internal Debts in Public Debts increased from Rs. 66.23 lakh crore to Rs. 67.96 lakh crores.
  • The External Debts in Public Debts also went up from Rs. 5.01 lakh crore to Rs. 5.25 lakh crore.

Himanshu Shukla

Links: https://www.dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/Data%20on%20Central%20Government%20Debt%20for%20the%20Quarter%20Ending%20September%2C%202018-%28Q3%29.pdf
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=187600
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-4-5-years-indias-debt-up-49-to-82-lakh-crore-says-finance-ministry-1979919