April-August fiscal gap rises to ₹5.98 lakh crore

Government also projects the fiscal deficit for FY26 to be ₹15.69 lakh crore

- Rhik Kundu

In the first five months of the last fiscal year, India's fiscal deficit was at ₹4.35 lakh crore.

(MINT)

India's fiscal deficit rose in the first five months of 2025-26, as compared with the same period last year, due to higher government capital expenditure while net tax revenue declined.

The Union government reported a fiscal deficit of ₹5.98 lakh crore for April-August, amounting to 38.1% of the target for the entire 2025-26 fiscal year, according to data released by the Controller General of Accounts on Tuesday.

For the same period last year, the fiscal deficit was ₹4.35 lakh crore.