Govt should be cautious while raising external debt: ASSOCHAM

25 May 2012 Evaluate

The industry body ASSOCHAM has advised the government that it should try and control its public debt especially from external sources. It is of the opinion that though there is a need for funds the government should be careful while borrowing especially when it comes to raising external debt.

In its report titled ‘Rising Interest Burden’ it has stated that India should learn from the example of some European and developed nations and realize that it is extremely important to keep the debt under control. India can derive some consolation from the fact that its public debt largely comes from internal sources and dependence on foreign funds has not gone up.

However it must be noted that in India the growth of per capita debt is higher than the growth of per capita income, which should be a cause for concern. At a time when the currency is volatile and unpredictable, India must be very cautious in opening up its market and allowing foreign investors to invest in government securities.

The report has noted that the government's non-plan expenditure has been increasing and payments made towards debt servicing have been on the rise. The interest payment's share to the total non-plan expenditure has gone up from 31.6% in 2008-09 to 35.9% in 2011-12. It is expected to be 33% in 2012-13.

One third of the total government’s revenue is being used to make interest payments and if not checked can lead to a debt trap. Further raising funds from overseas market is prone to several risks, including extra burden on redemption as the rupee's value has depreciated, says ASSOCHAM.

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