India's external debt up 13% to $390 billion in FY13

10 Sep 2013 Evaluate

Amid rising debt flows, deceleration in GDP growth and depreciating rupee, the country’s key external debt indicators witnessed some deterioration in FY13. India's external debt stock increased by 13% to $390 billion in the reported fiscal as against $345.5 billion in FY12 as the country scrambled to raise quick funds to meet the record high current account deficit. Indian external debt to GDP ratio also went up to 21.2% in the FY13 against 19.7% in FY12.  The country debt rose mainly due to increase in short term debt, commercial borrowings and non-resident Indian deposits.

The share of short-term debt to total debt country rose to 24.8% at the end of 2012-13 from 22.6% a year ago, while share of concessional debt in the total debt dropped. However, magnitude of increase in external debt was offset to some extent due to gain resulting from appreciation of the US dollar against Indian rupee and other international currencies. Referring to the currency composition to the total debt, the US dollar denominated debt continued to be the largest component with a share of 57.2%, followed by rupee (24%), special drawing rights SDR (7.5%), Japanese yen (6.3%) and euro (3.5%).

Meanwhile, NRI deposits increased by $12.2 billion to $70.8 billion at end-March 2013 primarily due to increase in rupee denominated NRI deposits. The ratio of foreign exchange reserves to external debt at end-March 2013 at 74.9% was lower than the level of end-March 2012 at 85.2%.

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