India's fiscal deficit for April-September at Rs 7.14 lakh crore, widens

Benchmarks Nifty23,053.10116.35FEATURED FUNDS★★★★★Motilal Oswal Midcap Fund Direct-Growth5Y Return18.73 % Invest NowFEATURED FUNDS★★★★★UTI Aggressive Hybrid Fund Regular Plan-Growth5Y Return9.04 % Invest NowEnter search text:

The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now. Read Today's Paper India's fiscal deficit for April-September at Rs 7.14 lakh crore, widens to 42.1% of FY27 aimET OnlineLast Updated: Oct 30, 2026, 04:40:00 PM ISTSynopsis

India's fiscal deficit for the first half of the fiscal year through September stood at Rs 7.14 lakh crore. Total receipts during this period amounted to Rs 18.35 lakh crore, representing 50.3% of the annual estimate. The Centre has budgeted a fiscal deficit of Rs 16.96 lakh crore for the full year. Major subsidy expenditures reached approximately Rs 6.55 lakh crore, affecting overall financial performance.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Loading...×India's fiscal deficit for the first six months of this fiscal year through September stood at Rs 7.14 lakh crore, or 42.1% of annual estimates, government data showed on Friday.

The fiscal deficit widened from 36.5% reported in the comparable year-earlier period.

The Centre has budgeted a fiscal deficit of Rs 16.96 lakh crore for FY27.

Total receipts stood at Rs 18.35 lakh crore during April-September, equivalent to 50.3% of the full-year budget estimate. In the corresponding period last year, receipts were at 49.5% of the annual target.

Revenue receipts stood at Rs 17.57 lakh crore rupees or 49.7% of the budget estimate. Of this, the net tax revenue was Rs 12.76 lakh crore, while non-tax revenue was Rs 4.81 lakh crore.

Live Events

Net tax revenue reached 44.5% of the full-year estimate, compared with 43.3% during the corresponding period last year. Non-tax revenue stood at 72.2% of the annual target, lower than 79.9% in the year-ago period. This will help the central government reduce its fiscal deficit.

On the expenditure side, New Delhi spent about Rs 6.55 lakh crore on major subsidies such as food, fertilisers and petroleum. This was 53.6% of the revised annual aim, tad wider than 51.8% of budgeted expenditure in the comparable period last year.

Revenue expenditure reached Rs 18.95 lakh crore, or 45.9% of the full-year estimate.

The revenue deficit stood at Rs 1.38 lakh crore, or 23.4% of the annual target, compared with 5.2% in the corresponding period last year. The primary deficit stood at Rs 68,000 crore, or 23.4% of the budget estimate.

Major subsidy expenditure reached Rs 2.2 lakh crore through September, equivalent to 54% of the Rs 4.1 lakh crore budgeted for the year, compared with 53% of the annual target during the corresponding period last year.

Food subsidy expenditure stood at Rs 1.02 lakh crore, while urea subsidy spending reached Rs 85,585 crore. Spending on nutrient-based fertiliser subsidies was Rs 33,664 crore, while petroleum subsidies stood at Rs 1,149 crore.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget for FY27, had pegged the fiscal deficit target at 4.3% of GDP as the government continued on its fiscal consolidation path.
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onIndia fiscal deficitfiscal deficit FY27Rs 7.14 lakh crorefiscal deficit datagovernment financesUnion Budget FY27fiscal deficit target
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onIndia fiscal deficitfiscal deficit FY27Rs 7.14 lakh crorefiscal deficit datagovernment financesUnion Budget FY27fiscal deficit target Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition

• Can new data protection law guard against SBI-like data breaches?

• KYB and KYC: Quick commerce, the Damani premium and what DMart must deliver – 3rd and concluding part

• The tough business behind the walls

• KYC and KYB: Inside Damani’s DMart, the retail chain for the middle class. And stock for the long term? – Part 2 of 3

• Will it be a regulatory nightmare if an exchange lists on its own platform?

• KYC and KYB: Inside Damani’s Avenue Supermarts that refuses to charge more – Part 1 of 3

• 1
• 2
• 3

View all StoriesContinue reading with one of these options:Limited AccessFreeLogin to get access to some exclusive stories
& personalised newslettersLogin NowUnlimited AccessStarting @ Rs120/monthGet access to exclusive stories, expert opinions &
in-depth stock reportsSubscribe NowET

Unlock Access to All Exclusives with ETPrime FREE TRIAL

15 Days Free: Unlock All ETPrime Exclusives, Market Tools & ePapers

Trial offer expiring in00 : 05 : 00

I'd rather pay ₹2599 now

Uh-oh! This is an exclusive story available for selected readers only.

Worry not. You’re just a step away.

Prime Account Detected!

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member with

Login using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits

Log out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Unlock ETPrime's Exclusive Stories Today!

Big Price Drop! Flat 40% Off

Student Only OfferAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In nowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Offer Exclusively For You

Save up to Rs. 700/-

ON ET PRIME MEMBERSHIP

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get 1 Year Free

With 1 and 2-Year ET prime membership

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

Get Flat 40% Off

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Offer Exclusively For You

ET Prime at ₹ 49 for 1 month

Then ₹ 1749 for 1 year

Avail Offer

Special Offer

Get flat 40% off on ETPrime

Avail OfferAvail OfferClaim NowAlready a Member? Sign In now

Need Assistance?

Connect with an ETPrime expert for personalized support and guidance

+91 9484700004'; }); } if(listing) { var h3 = "You tried reading " + listArr.length + " locked stories in the past " + threshold + " days.", h4 = "Become an ET Prime member and don't miss out on these exclusive stories."; var html = '

' + h3 + '

' + h4 + '

' + listing + '

'; $('#paidSCWidget').html(html); var callback = $('#paidSCWidget').attr('data-callback'); if(callback && window[callback]) { window[callback](); } customDimension.dimension72 += ' | Shown SYFT no Trial_With Missed Paywalled Articles Collection'; } else { _processNormal() } } }); } else { _processNormal(); } } catch (e) { _processNormal(); } }, function () { _processNormal(); }); //console.log('storyCollectionLoad', $); }

What’s Included with

ETPrime Membership

1Exclusive Insights That Matter

Uncover the truth with our investigative stories

Make strategic moves using the real-world case studies

Read industry-specific stories to identify emerging trends

Spot opportunities with
in-depth insights that matter

• Trump temper on H-1B visas is forcing Indians to do these things to stay put in US

  What Adani’s US indictment means for India Inc’s overseas fundraising

• Why veterans like Reliance, L&T are on acquisition spree? Aswath Damodaran has an answer.

  Will China’s dollar bond sale in Saudi Arabia trump the US in financial world?

• Huawei launches its own OS to compete with Google and Apple. But can it win beyond China?

  The problem with lab grown diamonds

• Why a falling rupee is a better option for the economy

  A list of top 20 momentum stocks that have delivered massive returns in one year

2Invest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas

Alpha Trade

Get daily trade ideas from SEBI-registered research analysts.

Investment Ideas

Grow your wealth with stock ideas & sectoral trends.

Stock Reports Plus

All-in-one stock research with Stock Score, peer comparison & key signals.

BigBull Portfolio

Get to know where the market bulls are investing to identify the right stocks.

Stock Analyzer

Check the score based on the company's fundamentals, solvency, growth, risk & ownership to decide the right stocks.

Market Mood

Analyze the market sentiments & identify the trend reversal for strategic decisions.

Stock Talk Live at 9 AM Daily

Ask your stock queries & get assured replies by ET appointed, SEBI registered experts.

3Stay informed anytime, anywhere with ET ePaper

ePaper - Print View

Read the PDF version of ET newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.

ePaper - Digital View

Read your daily newspaper in Digital View & get it delivered to your inbox everyday.

Wealth Edition

Manage your money efficiently with this weekly money management guide.

TOI ePaper

Read the PDF version of TOI newspaper. Download & access it offline anytime.

Deep Explainers

Explore the In-depth explanation of complex topics for everyday life decisions.

Health+ Stories

Get fitter with daily health insights committed to your well-being.

Personal Finance+ Stories

Manage your wealth better with in-depth insights & updates on finance.

5Enjoy Complimentary Subscriptions From Top Brands

Stream new documentaries from all across the world every day.

Stories you might be interested in