Consumption may offset losses this year itself: FM

Centre to maintain budgeted fiscal deficit target of 4.4% this financial year

- Utpal Bhaskar & Gireesh Chandra Prasad

Higher purchases of goods and services after the GST rate cuts take effect on 22 September will likely make up for the impact of lower tax rate on revenue receipts this year itself, a set of measures to support exporters are in the offing and further flexibility in allowing entry of professionals from China is expected, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Mint in an interview on Friday.

The minister stressed that on account of the expected boost arising from the consumption stimulus, the Central government will maintain its budgeted fiscal deficit target of 4.4% this financial year.

Sitharaman said that her next big test would be ensuring that businesses pass on the benefit of the steep GST rate cuts announced on Wednesday by the federal indirect tax body, the GST Council, to the common man.