Poor run of the finances continued in the new financial year for Telangana with the State registering Rs. 22,392 crore revenue during April, the first month of the new fiscal.

This is 7.43% of the ₹3.01 lakh crore projected in the budget estimates for the year. Of the total receipts, revenue through borrowings and other liabilities constituted a major chunk of ₹11,417 crore while revenue through all other sources remained below 10% of the budget estimates. Revenue receipts at April-end were ₹10,974 crore, 4.55% of the ₹2.41 lakh crore estimated and tax revenue was a shade better at ₹10,598 crore, 5.84% of the ₹1.81 lakh crore of the budget estimates.

Revenue realisation through Goods and Services Tax was ₹3,155 crore, 5.13% of the ₹61,564 crore of the budget estimates and Registration and Stamps fetched ₹1,413 crore marking 7.23% of the ₹19,540 crore projected. Sales Tax at ₹2,923 crore, 7.67% of ₹38,105 crore, stood little higher and State Excise duties continued to be lower at ₹1,445 crore of the ₹27,668 crore of budget estimates.

Non-Tax revenue and grants-in-aid and contributions were sluggish at ₹359 crore and ₹16.89 crore registering realisation of 1.01% and 0.07% respective of the budget estimates.

Expenditure front

On the expenditure front, interest payment was ₹2,350 crore, 11.03% of the ₹21,304 crore projected for the year and salaries/wages constituted ₹4,449 crore, 9.20% of ₹48,358 crore of the budget estimates. Expenditure on account of payment of pensions continued to be on the higher side in the new financial year too at ₹1,893 crore, 12.85% of the ₹14,736 crore of budget estimates.

Spending on subsidy, primarily towards free power for agriculture sector, was higher largely on account of use of pumpsets during the summer months, at ₹4,727 crore, 26.11% per cent of the ₹18,105 crore budgeted for the year, according to the provisional figures submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

The State’s fiscal deficit was ₹11,413 crore on account of borrowings and revenue deficit was ₹8,526 crore against ₹6,857 crore surplus projected for the fiscal. The primary deficit at the end of the first month was ₹9,063 crore, 24.39% of the ₹37,154 crore of the budget estimates.