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    GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

    Quarterly Review

    of the trends in receipts andexpenditure in relation to budget at the end of the

    financial year 2004-2005

    (As required under Section 7(1) of theFiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003)

    Ministry of Finance

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    CONTENTS

    Page

    Macroeconomic backdrop 1

    Review of trends in receipts and expenditure of

    Government during 2004-05 2

    Receipts 4

    Tax Revenue 4

    Non-tax Revenue 5

    Non-debt Capital Receipts 5

    Expenditure 5

    Plan Expenditure 6

    Non-Plan Expenditure 7

    Resources transferred to States/UTs 7

    Commercial Receipts and Expenditure 7

    Status of cash balances during the year 7

    Financing of Fiscal Deficit 8

    Market Stabilization Scheme 8

    National Small Savings Fund 8

    Status of total liabilities 9

    Concluding remarks 9

    Annexure-I (Accounts at a Glance) 11

    Annexure-II (Tax Revenue) 12

    Annexure-III (Non-Tax Revenue) 13

    Annexure-IV (Capital Receipts) 14

    Annexure-V (Plan Expenditure) 15

    Annexure-VI (Non-Plan Expenditure) 17

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    Statement on Quarterly Review of the trends in receipts and expenditure in relation to

    the budget at the end of the

    financial year 2004-05

    Macroeconomic backdrop

    1. The initial growth projections for 2004-05, which were low to begin with, were subsequently

    revised downward. This was mainly because of deficient rainfall and deterioration in the world inflationaryenvironment due to a sharp upward movement in global oil prices. However, the economy has performed

    better and is estimated to have grown by 6.9 per cent on top of the 8.5 per cent growth recorded in 2003-04.

    CSO's Advance Estimates of 6.9 per cent growth for 2004-05 has been reconfirmed in the Revised

    Estimates. The lower growth in agriculture and allied sectors and marginal decline in services sector hasbeen partially offset by the higher growth in industry.

    2. As per the quarterly estimates released by CSO, the economy is estimated to have grown by

    7.0 per cent as against 8.4 per cent growth in the last quarter of 2003-04. After exhibiting a decline in the

    third quarter, agriculture and allied sector grew by 1.8 per cent in the last quarter of 2004-05. Services sector

    growth, after improving from 8.1 per cent in the second quarter to 8.9 per cent in the third, increased further

    to 9.3 per cent in the last quarter of 2004-05. As compared to the third quarter of 2004-05, mining andquarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water supply, construction and financial services grew at

    lower rates in the fourth quarter. Trade, hotels, transport and communications, and community, social and

    personal services grew at a higher rate in the fourth quarter as compared to the third quarter of 2004-05.

    3. As per the 4th advance estimates, foodgrains production declined from 213.5 million tonnes

    in 2003-04 to 204.6 million tonnes in 2004-05. Overall, following a 9.6 per cent high growth in 2003-04,

    agriculture and allied sector did well to avoid a decline in growth terms, reflecting a relative small beginning

    in farm diversification. The growth in broad money was 12.4 per cent (net of conversion, 12.2 per cent) at

    end March 2005. Despite the sharp upward movement in the price situation in the first half of the financial

    year, the annual point-to-point WPI inflation stood at 5.05 per cent as at end March 2005.

    4. Industrial growth (as per the Index of Industrial Production) at 8.2 per cent in 2004-05 asagainst 7.0 per cent in 2003-04 indicates a robust industrial climate. However, the growth of six core

    industries (mostly infrastructure) was lower at 4.4 per cent in 2004-05 as against 6.2 per cent in 2003-04.

    Domestic savings as a proportion of GDP at current market prices, showed an improvement from 26.1 per

    cent in 2002-03 to 28.1 per cent in 2003-04. Investment rate or gross domestic capital formation, as a

    proportion of GDP at current market prices, grew from 24.8 per cent in 2002-03 to 26.3 per cent in 2003-04.

    5. Exports in dollar terms, continued their buoyancy and recorded 24.1 per cent growth in 2004-

    05 as against 21.1 per cent in 2003-04. Imports also grew at a faster pace of 37 per cent in 2004-05 and

    resulted in a higher trade deficit. Foreign exchange reserves (excluding gold, SDR and Reserve Tranche

    Position in IMF) grew from US $107.45 billion at end-march 2004 to US$135.57 billion at end March 2005.

    The strength of the external sector, the resilience of the domestic real sector and robustness of the financialsector bode well for the growth momentum of the economy.

    Review of trends in receipts and expenditure of Government during 2004-05

    6. Summarized position of the state of finances of the Government during 2004-05 is given

    below. Disaggregated data are given in Annexes I to VI . The receipts and expenditure figures given here are

    un-audited figures and may undergo revision subsequently as a result of audit. The receipts and recoveries,

    wherever directly linked to expenditures, have been netted against the expenditures.

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    Key fiscal aggregates

    (Rs in crore)

    2003-04 BE 2004-05 RE 2004-05 200 4-05

    Gross Tax revenue 254,348 317,733 306,021 304,980

    Net tax revenue 186,982 233,906 225,804 224,857

    Non tax revenue 76,896 75,416 75,100 80,330Loan recovery 67,165 27,100 61,565 60,862

    Disinvestment and other

    non-debt capital receipts 16,953 4,000 4,091 4,424

    Total non-debt receipts 347,996 340,422 366,560 370,473

    Plan expenditure 122,280 145,590 137,387 132,160

    Plan Revenue expenditure 78,638 91,843 89,673 87,496

    Plan Capital expenditure 43,642 53,747 47,714 44,664

    Non-Plan expenditure 348,988 332,239 368,404 366,288

    Non-Plan Revenue

    expenditure 283,502 293,650 296,396 297,249

    Non-Plan Capital

    expenditure 65,486 38,589 72,008 69,039

    Total expenditure 471,268 477,829 505,791 498,448

    Revenue expenditure 362,140 385,493 386,068 384,745

    Capital expenditure 109,128 92,336 119,723 113,703

    Revenue Deficit 98,262 76,171 85,164 79,558

    Fiscal Deficit 123,272 137,407 139,231 127,975

    Primary Deficit -816 7,907 13,326 1,435

    Outstanding year-end

    liabilities including

    external debt atcurrent exchange rates 18,74,757 21,23,945 21,19,593 20,79,978

    Key fiscal aggregates as per cent of Gross Domestic Product

    at current market prices

    2003-04 BE 2004-05 RE 2004-05 2004-05

    (Provisional)

    Revenue deficit 3.6 2.5 2.7 2.6

    Fiscal Deficit 4.5 4.4 4.5 4.1

    Primary Deficit (0.0) 0.3 0.4 0.0

    Tax revenue 9.2 10.2 9.8 9.8

    Expenditure 17.1 15.4 16.3 16.1

    Plan Expenditure 4.4 4.7 4.4 4.3

    Non-Plan Expenditure 12.6 10.7 11.9 11.8

    Revenue expenditure 13.1 12.4 12.4 12.4

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    Capital expenditure 4.0 3.0 3.9 3.7

    Total liabilities including

    external debt at currentexchange rate 67.9 68.4 68.2 67.0

    7. In the financial year 2004-05, the Revenue Deficit was reduced, both in absolute terms as

    well as a proportion of GDP, to Rs.79,558 crore (2.6 per cent of GDP) from Rs.98,262 crore (3.6 per cent of

    GDP) in 2003-04. While Fiscal Deficit increased marginally to Rs.127,975 crore from Rs.123,272 crore in

    2003-04, it registered a decline as a proportion of GDP from 4.5 per cent to 4.1 per cent. The Primary

    Deficit in 2004-05 was at a moderate level of Rs.1,435 crore compared to a Primary surplus of Rs.816 crorein 2003-04. Reflecting a moderation in the level of indebtedness of the Government, the Debt to GDP ratio

    declined from 67.9 per cent in 2003-04 to 67.0 per cent in 2004-05. As explained below in detail, this

    implies that the Government has been able to achieve the debt/deficit restraint targets set under the Fiscal

    Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003. Government looks at this achievement with added

    satisfaction as this progress in fiscal consolidation has been made in the backdrop of difficulties arising out

    of inflationary pressures, which compelled the Government to offer tax concessions. Delay in passing of the

    Budget for 2004-05 and availability of unspent balances with the implementation agencies, however,

    resulted in a reduction in Budgeted Plan expenditure by about Rs.13,400 crore (although it increased by

    about Rs.9,900 crore vis--vis 2003-04), which more than offset the shortfall in tax revenue. Fiscal

    consolidation was further aided by about Rs.4,900 crore increase in non-tax revenue due to good returns on

    Government's financial investments in a buoyant capital market. A more detailed analysis of movement of

    various fiscal parameters in 2004-05 is given in the succeeding paragraphs.

    Receipts

    8. About three-fourth of the total expenditure of Rs.498,448 crore in 2004-05 was financed bynon-debt receipts (Rs.3,70,473 crore), and the balance (Rs.127,975 crore) through borrowed funds. Of the

    total non-debt receipts, tax revenues contributed 61 per cent (up from 54 per cent in 2003-04), non-tax

    revenues contributed 22 per cent (same as in 2003-04), and loan recoveries contributed 16 per cent (down

    from 19 per cent in 2003-04). Remaining 1 per cent (down from 5 per cent in 2003-04) was contributed by

    disinvestment proceeds and other non-debt capital receipts. Significantly, the tax financing of totalexpenditure increased from 40 per cent in 2003-04 to 45 per cent in 2004-05. Taxes, and in particular thedirect taxes, are gaining increasing prominence in financing government expenditure. Direct taxes have

    shown a much higher growth rate during the last decade compared to indirect taxes. These are significant

    pointers to the ongoing structural changes in Central finances.

    Tax Revenue

    9. Gross tax collection of Rs.3,04,980 crore (9.8 per cent of GDP) during 2004-05 was 20 percent more than that in 2003-04(9.2 per cent of GDP). The improvement in the Tax to GDP ratio by 0.6

    percentage points was higher than the improvement by 0.4 percentage points registered during 2003-04.

    However, actual gross tax revenue registered a 4 per cent shortfall vis--vis the Budget Estimates. Direct

    taxes have shown a much higher growth rate during the last decade than indirect taxes. Taking 1995-96 as

    base, Corporation Tax grew over 5 times, Income Tax grew over 3 times, Excise nearly 2.5 times andCustoms over 1.5 times. In absolute terms, however, the Union Excise duties continued to be mostsignificant tax receipt followed by Corporation Tax, Customs and Income Tax, in that order. Of the total

    gross tax revenue (Rs.304,980 crore) in 2004-05, Rs.78,595 crore was transferred to the States as their share

    in Union taxes and duties against a similar transfer of Rs.65,766 crore in 2003-04. After transferring

    Rs.1,528 crore to the National Calamity Contingency Fund, the net tax revenue of the Central Government

    was Rs.224,857 crore, compared to Rs. 186,982 crore in 2003-04.

    10. The following table shows the trends under different types of tax revenue:

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    Collections of Tax revenue

    (Rs. in crore or percentage growth)DESCRIPTION B E RE Year-on-year

    2004-2005 2004-2005 2004-2005 2003-2004 growth

    Corporation Tax 88,436 83,000 83,566 63,562 31

    Taxes on Income 50,929 50,929 48,312 41,379 17

    Wealth Tax 145 265 149 136 10Customs 54,250 56,250 57,655 48,629 19

    Union Excise Duties 109,199 100,720 99,155 90,774 9

    Service Tax 14,150 14,150 14,200 7,891 80

    Other taxes 624 707 1,942 1,977 -2

    Total 317,733 306,021 304,980 254,348 20

    11. The Budget had assumed a growth of 25 per cent in the gross tax revenue. However, several

    post-budget duty concessions were effected to ease the inflationary pressures. Union Excise Duties suffered

    the most on this account and recorded only 9 per cent growth against 18 per cent assumed in the Budget.

    The year ended with a 20 per cent growth, short of the Budget target because of post-Budget concessions.

    Nevertheless, year-on-year growth was the highest, at least in the last decade.

    Non-tax revenue

    12. Non-Tax Revenue during 2004-05 was Rs.80,330 crore, 6.5 per cent higher than the Budget

    Estimates and 4.5 per cent higher than that in 2003-04. Main contributors to Non-Tax Revenues are Interest

    Receipts (Rs.32,733 crore) and Dividends and Profits (Rs.22,847 crore). As a result of reduction in interest

    on loans to States, the interest receipts were lower than in the previous year. However, the decrease was

    more than offset by increases in income from dividends, telecom and petroleum receipts, and profits from

    special investments in the Unit Trust of India. Non-Tax Revenues have declined from 2.8 per cent of GDP in

    2003-04 to 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2004-05.

    Non-debt capital receipts

    13. The non-debt capital receipts, comprising mainly of Recoveries of Loans and Disinvestment

    Proceeds, have decreased from Rs.84,118 crore during 2003-2004 to Rs.65,286 crore during 2004-2005.

    Recovery of Loans at Rs.60,862 crore (against Rs.27,100 crore assumed in the Budget Estimates) were 9 per

    cent lower than the previous year's figure of Rs.67,165 crore. The enhanced receipts came in the form of

    pre-payment of higher cost Central loans by the States under a Debt-Swap facility offered by the Central

    Government to reduce the debt-service burden on State finances. Lower loan recovery vis--vis that in 2003-

    04 is due to discontinuation of the State Debt Swap Scheme on completion of the target of Rs.1,00,000 crore

    of loans with interest over 13 per cent.

    Expenditure

    14. Total Central Government expenditure during 2004-05 was Rs.498,448 crore (Plan:

    Rs.132,160 crore; non-Plan: Rs.366,288 crore; Revenue:Rs.384,745 crore; Capital:Rs.113,703 crore)

    compared to Rs.477,829 crore (Plan:Rs.145,590 crore; non-Plan: Rs.332,239 crore, Revenue:Rs.385,493

    crore; Capital: Rs. 92,336 crore) provided in the Budget Estimates and Rs.471,268 crore (Plan:Rs.122,280

    crore; non-Plan: Rs.348,988 crore; Revenue:Rs.362,140 crore; Capital:Rs.109,128 crore) incurred during

    2003-04. Compared to the previous year, total expenditure in 2004-05 grew by Rs.27,180 crore (6 per cent

    growth), revenue expenditure by Rs.22,605 crore (6 per cent growth), and capital expenditure by Rs.4,575

    crore (4 per cent growth).

    15. One feature of non-Plan capital expenditure in 2004-05 merits mention. Against Budget

    Estimates of Rs.27,100 crore, the actual loan recovery receipts in 2004-05 were Rs.60,862 crore, mainly due

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    to pre-payment of high cost loans by States under the State Debt Swap Scheme. These additional receipts

    were largely used by the Government to redeem Central Government securities issued to the National Small

    Savings Fund. The additional expenditure on redemption amounting to Rs.32,675 crore in 2004-05 was

    financed from additional non-debt receipts. Hence, the transaction did not affect the fiscal deficit. Similar

    expenditure on redemption in 2003-04 was Rs.46,211 crore.

    Plan Expenditure

    16. Plan expenditure during 2004-2005 was Rs.1,32,160 crore, showing an increase of Rs.9,880crore (8 per cent growth) over the previous year. Expenditure on Central Plan was Rs. 80,130 crore

    (previous year: Rs.71,842 crore) and that on State Plan was Rs.52,030 crore (previous year: Rs.50,438

    crore). Central and State Plan break-up was as follows:

    Plan expenditure

    (Rs. in crore)

    BE 2004-05 2004-05 2003-04

    Central Plan 87,886 80,130 71,842

    State and UT Plans 57,704 52,030 50,438

    Total 1,45,590 132,160 122,280

    17. Despite increase in the Plan expenditure over the previous year, the Budget provision was not

    fully utilized. Apart from the fact that a lumpsum provision of Rs.10,000 crore provided in the Budget

    Estimates could be apportioned only after Supplementary Appropriations were passed, a major factor for theshortfall in Plan expenditure is attributed to implementation problems in some sectors. Major shortfalls were

    registered in power, roads and infrastructure development. The Ministries of Human Resource Development

    and Rural Development could release almost the entire budget made available, and the Ministry of Railways

    could spend as much as Rs.8,456 crore against Rs.6,919 crore provided in the Budget initially.

    18. It has been highlighted in the previous quarterly reviews that funds released to a large number

    of implementing agencies - State Governments, Autonomous Bodies including District level autonomousbodies - some times remain unutilized for long or get diverted for unintended purposes, or simply get parked

    outside Government accounts. Mere "release" of funds to an implementation agency, although shown in the

    Government accounts as "expenditure", is not enough. The Government has tightened the discipline in this

    regard. The Ministries have been advised to keep a close watch on the position of unspent balances available

    with the implementation agencies, and insist upon furnishing of utilization certificates for funds released

    earlier, wherever due under the Rules, before releasing more funds. Canons of financial propriety require

    that moneys should be drawn from the Government account only when imminently required for final

    expenditure. While the Government remains committed to provide adequate budget support for various

    public policy objectives, it would be increasingly difficult to countenance the tendency to cover up inability

    to gainfully spend by parking funds for possible future use.

    Non-Plan Expenditure

    19. Non-Plan expenditure during 2004-05 was Rs.366,288 crore compared to Rs.348,988 crore

    during 2003-04. In 2003-04, Government had redeemed special securities of Rs.32,602 crore issued to the

    National Small Savings Fund. Expenditure (non-Plan capital) on this account in 2004-05 was Rs.32,675

    crore. Interest payments (Rs.1,26,540 crore), defence expenditure (Rs.75,956 crore) and major subsidies

    (Rs.44,633 crore) continued to be major items of non- plan expenditure in 2004-05. Together, these

    accounted for 67 per cent of the total Non-Plan Expenditure. Interest payment accounted for roughly 1/3rd

    of the revenue expenditure and 1/4th of the total expenditure. It was 4.1 per cent of GDP, the lowest since

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    1995-96 due to the continuation of benign interest rate regime that has brought some relief to public finances

    in recent years.

    20. Major savings in 2004-05 under non-Plan expenditure provided in the Budget occurred in

    interest payments (Rs.2,960 crore), grants to States (Rs.2,739 crore), payments to financial institutions

    (Rs.1,827 crore), defence services (Rs.1,044 crore) and petroleum subsidy (Rs.603 crore). Major increases

    over Budget Estimates occurred under the heads support to BSNL/rural telephony etc (Rs.4,221 crore);

    fertilizer subsidy (Rs.3,198 crore) and pensions (Rs.1,194 crore).

    Resources transferred to States / Union Territories

    21. Funds transferred to State/UT Governments during 2004-05 were Rs.97,757 crore. This was

    higher by Rs.19,199 crore (24 per cent growth) than last year. This was excluding NSSF investments in

    State securities, which was Rs.86,412 crore.

    Commercial receipts and expenditure

    22. Summary position is given below:-

    (Rs in crore)

    Item BE 2004-05 2004-05 BE 2003-04 20 03-04

    Revenue Expenditure 14,816 14,783 13,596 13,578Receipts 14,491 12,541 13,606 13,569

    Net 325 2,242 -10 9

    23. Major deterioration in net deficit position (Rs.1,351 crore) was caused due to the operations

    of the Canteen Stores Department, where the expenditure increased from Rs.4,797 crore provided in the

    Budget to Rs.5,333 crore whereas its receipts declined from Rs.5,162 crore in the Budget Estimates to

    Rs.4,347 crore.

    Status of cash balances during the year

    24. The Government began the year 2004-05 with a cash surplus of Rs.26,669 crore over and above

    the minimum cash requirement. This surplus was fully utilized till 30th April when the Government resorted

    to a Ways and Means Advances of Rs.245 crore. Thereafter, Government remained cash deficient tillSeptember 9. However, the trend was reversed from September 10 and the Government was able to maintain

    a cash surplus position till the end of the year and ended the year with a cash surplus of Rs.26,202 crore.

    Financing of Fiscal Deficit

    25. Bulk of the fiscal deficit is being financed through direct borrowings from the open market,

    as a measure of fiscal discipline. After two consecutive years of negative contribution (due to pre-payment

    of some external loans), external assistance emerged as an important source of financing, covering about

    one-tenth of the fiscal deficit.

    Financing of Fiscal Deficit

    (Rs. in crore)

    Year 04-05 03-04 02-03 01-02 00-01

    Fiscal Deficit 127,975 123,272 145,072 140,954 118,815

    Sources of Financing

    Internal Debt 102,379 165,966 120,006 105,009 88,016

    External Assistance 12,934 -12,189 -12,255 6,010 8,336

    National Small Savings Fund 8,480 -19,398 20,496 2,549 -124

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    State Provident Fund etc 5,357 4,891 4,621 4,173 4,922

    Special Deposits -2,143 102 9,324 8,014 7,728

    Other Deposits 968 -16,100 2,880 15,199 9,937

    Market Stabilization Scheme

    26. Apart from normal market borrowing for financing the fiscal deficit, Government also raised

    Rs.64,211 crore (net of repayments) during 2004-05 under Market Stabilization Scheme. It is not utilized for

    financing the fiscal deficit. The amount is borrowed with the objective of mopping up excess liquidity from

    the market to assist the Reserve bank of India in monetary management and remains in the Cash Balance of

    the Central Government. This nevertheless adds to the liabilities of the Government, and also contributes to

    an increase in the fiscal deficit through increased interest burden.

    National Small Savings Fund

    27. Collections under various small saving schemes run by the Government, which are credited

    into the National Small Savings Fund (NSSF), are part of the liabilities of the Government. These liabilities

    increased from Rs.435,242 crore as on 31st March 2004 to Rs.527,901 crore as on 31st March 2005. Bulk of

    these funds is invested in the Central and State Government securities (Rs.503,806 crore as on 31st March

    2005.). Cumulative investment in State Government securities increased, during the same period, from

    Rs.215,123 crore to Rs.301,536 crore. It is a matter of satisfaction that, after registering operating deficits

    for several consecutive years, NSSF witnessed a turnaround in the year 2004-05 and NSSF's current income

    was higher than operating expenses by Rs.2,233 crore. This led to a reduction in the cumulative deficit in

    NSSF's income-expenditure account from Rs.12,980 crore as on 31st March 2004 to Rs.10,747 crore as on31st March 2005.

    Status of total liabilities

    28. Total Central Government liabilities (including external debt liability reckoned at current

    exchange rates) increased from Rs.18,74,757 crore on 31st March 2004 to Rs.20,79,978 crore on 31st March

    2005. However, as a ratio to GDP, these declined from 67.9 per cent in 2003-04 to 67.0 per cent in 2004-05.

    Of the total liabilities, the liabilities to depositors of small savings schemes were Rs.435,242 crore as on 31stMarch 2004 and Rs.527,901 crore as on 31st March 2005. The external debt (at current exchange rates)

    marginally increased from Rs.184,203 crore to Rs.189,860 crore. The balance was mainly in the form of

    debt raised from open market.

    Concluding remarks

    29. In the Review report at the end of the third quarter, it was noted that the Central Government

    finances were under stress due to the impact of post-budget duty concessions to ease inflation and certain

    expenditure commitments like "fertilizer subsidy" (about Rs.3,000 crore) due to increase in the cost of

    inputs; budgetary support to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited for rural telephony etc (about Rs.3,000 crore);

    pension payments (about Rs.2,400 crore) mainly due to merger of part of Dearness Allowance in pay;

    National Food for Work Programme(about Rs.2,000 crore); Externally Aided Projects in States (aboutRs.1,500 crore); and additional expenditure on calamity relief (about Rs.1,200 crore). Nevertheless, both the

    Houses of Parliament were assured that the Government had initiated a number of corrective measures and

    notwithstanding these setbacks, considered temporary in nature, the Government would continue to improve

    fiscal performance.

    30. It is a matter of satisfaction that fiscal performance indeed improved in the last quarter of the

    last financial year. During April-Dec, 2004 the growth rate in gross tax revenue had been only 18 per cent

    against 25 per cent assumed in the Budget, which in turn was largely attributable to delay in passage of the

    Finance Act and to the post-budget duty concessions. As a result of concerted efforts made by the

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    Government, the year ended with a 20 per cent growth in gross tax collection, collecting almost 96 per cent

    of budgeted tax revenue. On expenditure side, even after absorbing the extra commitments, the overall

    increase in the expenditure was contained through improved expenditure management, notably as a result of

    efforts to reduce accretion in the build-up of unspent balances with the implementation agencies and

    enforcement of prescribed conditionalities.

    31. The Government remains committed to elimination of revenue deficit by 2008-09 under the

    Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act and the National Common Minimum Programme.Although no fiscal correction has been contemplated in the Budget for 2005-06 for various reasons

    explained in the Statement presented to the Parliament along with the Budget, yet, encouraged by the actual

    fiscal performance in 2004-05 in the face of various odds, the Government intends to continue with its

    efforts to reduce the revenue deficit and effect a change in the quality of public expenditure. The

    Government has already initiated a number of corrective measures to tone up tax and expenditure

    administration, which have been spelt out in detail in the Mid-Year Review(December 2004) as well as in

    the Fiscal Policy Strategy Statement presented with the Budget for 2005-06. While the concerns arising out

    of high and volatile level of international crude prices remain , the economy demonstrates considerable

    resilience, and the Government's efforts at fiscal consolidation through improved tax administration and

    expenditure control are continuing.

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