In an encouraging development for the economy, rating agency Moody's termed high bids received in spectrum auction as 'credit positive' for India, citing that the proceeds from the sale of airwaves will help the government meet its fiscal deficit target. The rating agency highlighted that this development will be credit positive for the sovereign in the near term, particularly since tax revenue receipts have been lacklustre this fiscal year.
Moody’s however expects government to implement a variety of measures to meet its fiscal deficit targets this year and next. In the Union Budget 2015, which was Modi’s government first fully fledged budget, fiscal deficit target for 2014-2015 was pegged at 4.1% of GDP and 3.9% for the next fiscal.
In its report, Moody’s pointed that this development would have indirect sovereign impact, through the banking system from the increase in firms' leverage related to the bids. It cautioned that several other factors will play a role in determining the impact of such leverage on the system, including the sector's growth and profitability and hence, termed this as an indirect issue from the sovereign perspective.
After 19 days of fierce bidding, the government raked in a record bounty of nearly Rs 1.10 lakh crore in the country's biggest auction of telecom spectrum that ended on Wednesday. This is highest ever in history of India. The spectrum auction conducted in 2010 brought about Rs 106,000 crore which included Rs 30,000 crore payments. Lastly, depending on the band, carriers will have to pay as much as 33 percent of their final bid within 10 days of the auction's conclusion and the rest in 10 annual installments starting in 2017.
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