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Government To Borrow Rs 6.55 Lakh Crore In Second Half, Sticks To FY24 Plan

The central government's H2 borrowing will account for 42.45% of Rs 15.43 lakh crore budgeted for FY24.

<div class="paragraphs"><p>Indian 500 rupee currency notes arranged for photograph. (Photo: Vijay Sartape/BQ Prime)</p></div>
Indian 500 rupee currency notes arranged for photograph. (Photo: Vijay Sartape/BQ Prime)

The central government's borrowing for the rest of the fiscal 2024 will stay within the budgeted limit, aided by healthy small savings figures.

The central government, in consultation with the central bank, will borrow Rs 6.55 lakh crore--42.45% of the total Rs 15.43 lakh crore budgeted for FY24--in the second half, according to a Finance Ministry statement on Tuesday.

Sovereign green bonds worth Rs 20,000 crore are expected to be issued as part of the borrowing plan.

In a first, the government also stated it will also issue securities with 50-year maturity, responding to market demand for longer-duration securities.

The share of borrowing under different maturities will be:

  • 3-year: 6.11%.

  • 5-year: 11.45%.

  • 7-year: 9.16%.

  • 10-year: 22.9%

  • 14-year: 15.27%.

  • 30-year: 12.21%.

  • 40-year: 18.32%.

  • 50-year: 4.58%.

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India Likely To Stick To The Market Borrowing Plan For FY24

The gross market borrowing of Rs 6.55 lakh crore will be completed through 20 weekly auctions, the ministry said.

"The government will continue to carry out switching of securities to smoothen the redemption profile. Out of the Rs 1 lakh crore of budgeted (BE) switch amount, Rs 51,597 crore of switch auctions have already been conducted and the balance amount of switch auctions will be conducted in H2," it said.

The government notified that it will continue to exercise the greenshoe option to retain an additional subscription of up to Rs 2,000 crore against each of the securities indicated in the auction notification.

Through treasury bills, weekly borrowing in the third quarter is expected to be Rs 24,000 crore with net borrowing of Rs -52,000 lakh crore during the quarter.

Of this, Rs 7,000 crore will issued as 91-day treasury bills, Rs 8,000 crore under 182-day treasury bills and Rs 9,000 crore under 364-day treasury bills in each auction to be conducted during the quarter.

To account for temporary mismatches in government accounts, the Reserve Bank of India has fixed the ways and mean advances limit for the second half at Rs 50,000 crore.