Govt may seek higher dividend from state-owned companies to contain fiscal deficit

17 Oct 2013 Evaluate

With an aim to contain the fiscal deficit at 4.8 percent of GDP in the current financial year, Finance Ministry may seek higher dividend payments from state-owned companies in sectors such as steel, coal, mines and power. The move will help the government to contain the fiscal deficit within the target limit by making up part of the shortfall from disinvestment and lower revenue receipts on account of slowing economic growth. So far this fiscal, the government has raised only Rs 1,400 crore against the set disinvestment target of Rs 40,000 crore.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram will meet the chiefs of public sector units (PSUs) soon and will discuss various issues, including dividend payment and investment of surplus funds. Meanwhile, the government has already asked the PSUs to invest their surpluses funds or give special dividend. Recently, Chidambaram has said that the government is committed to the path of fiscal consolidation and will take difficult decisions soon to check country’s widening deficits. The government has set target to contain fiscal deficit at 4.8 percent of GDP in the current financial year.

Country’s fiscal deficit has touched around three-fourths of the budget estimate in the first five months of the fiscal. Meanwhile, the government is taking measures to check fiscal deficit. Recently, it has announced a slew of austerity measures including banning government departments for holding meetings in 5-star hotels among others to cut spending in non-critical areas.

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