Finance Ministry to pitch for ratings upgrade with global rating agencies

12 Apr 2013 Evaluate

In a series of meetings with the global agencies over the next few weeks, beginning with Fitch Ratings from April 12, Finance Minister P Chidambaram will pitch for ratings upgrade after making Budget proposals to cut down the fiscal deficit. In 2013-14 Budget, finance minister had proposed to bring down the fiscal deficit to 4.8% from 5.2% in 2012-13.

Representatives from Fitch will meet Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) Secretary Arvind Mayaram and other senior officials from various departments including capital markets, infrastructure, revenue and disinvestment on April 12. Further, representatives from Standard & Poor's and Moody's are scheduled to visit on April 25 and May 5 respectively.

Earlier, both S&P and Fitch had threatened to downgrade India's credit rating as a result of the expansionary policy which led to a rising fiscal deficit, which had touched a high of 5.8% in 2011-12. However, after the Union Budget, both the rating agencies kept India's sovereign rating unchanged but had warned that policy execution and controlling subsidies would be the key risks to look out for during the year.

The government had announced various measures, to promote growth and investment, like allowing FDI in multi-brand retail and raising foreign investment caps in various other sectors. Further, in order to check the rising subsidy bill, the government also implemented partial decontrol of diesel and capped subsidised LPG cylinders.

Currently, Fitch rates India as 'BBB-', lowest in the investment grade, with a negative outlook and  in August last year had said that the possibility of downgrading the country's sovereign rating is more than 50% in the next 12-24 months unless reforms are carried out. A further downgrade will push India's rating to the junk status, making it difficult and costlier for Indian entities to borrow funds overseas.

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