The fiscal tightrope

Also See Total Government Expenditure (Graphics)

The fine art of fiscal balance may have actually reached its limits after the deficit touched 6.8% of economic output in the budget for the year ending March.

Also Read All of Mint’s Budget coverage

The big question, before Mukherjee unveils the Budget on 26 February, is whether the government will exhibit the political will to take tough decisions to curb spending and, at the same time, ensure better value for every rupee spent on development programmes.

Graphics by Ahmed Raza Khan/Mint

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