India's fiscal deficit has come down marginally to Rs 92,435 crore (Rs 924.35 billion) till December this fiscal from Rs 93,656 crore (Rs 936.56 billion) till November.
However, the Centre's deficit during April-December this fiscal was 7.15 per cent higher than Rs 86,269 crore (Rs 862.69 billion) in the same period of 2002-03.
According to figures released by the Controller General of Accounts, total receipts of the Centre was at Rs 2,23,868 crore (Rs 2,238.68 billion) till December, while spendings were at Rs 3,16,303 crore (Rs 3,163.03 billion).
Receipts surged by 32.29 per cent mainly on account of surge in non-debt capital receipts by 185 per cent to Rs 53,325 crore (Rs 533.25 billion), while tax revenue rose by 14.4 per cent to Rs 1,18,795 crore (Rs 1,187.95 billion) till December.
While plan expenditures were higher by 19 per cent at Rs 76,689 crore (Rs 766.89 billion), non-plan expenditures rose by 25.44 per cent to Rs 2,39,614 crore (Rs 2,396.14 billion) till December.
Among non-plan spendings, interest payments amounted to Rs 78,587 crore (Rs 785.87 billion) till December 2003, which was marginally higher than Rs 69,838 crore (Rs 698.38 billion) till November.
To bridge the fiscal gap, the government's borrowings shot up to Rs 1,00,458 crore (Rs 1,004.58 billion) till December 2003 compared to Rs 86,510 crore (Rs 865.10 billion) till November.