Eleven states have achieved the target set by the finance ministry for the capital expenditure in the first quarter of 2021-22. As an incentive, these 11 states have been granted permission by the government to borrow an additional amount of Rs 15,721 crore. With an aim to speed up capital expenditure by states, which in turn will boost economy, the Union finance ministry had incentivised their borrowing. To become eligible for incremental borrowing, states were required to achieve at least 15 per cent of the target set for 2021-22 by the end of first quarter of 2021-22, 45 per cent by the end of second quarter, 70 per cent by the end of third quarter and 100 per cent by March 31, 2022.
“The additional open market borrowing permission granted is equivalent to 0.25 per cent of their Gross State Domestic Product [GSDP]. Additional financial resources thus made available will help the states in pushing their capital expenditure further,” the finance ministry said.
The states which have met the capital expenditure target are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
Andhra Pradesh will be eligible to borrow Rs 2,655 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs 2,590 crore, Rajasthan Rs 2,593 crore, Kerala Rs 2,255 crore, Haryana Rs 2,015 crore, Bihar Rs 1,699 crore, Chattisgarh Rs 895 crore, Uttarakhand, Rs 654 crore, Manipur Rs 90 crore, Meghalaya Rs 96 crore, and Nagaland Rs 89 crore.
According to ministry, the capital expenditure has a high multiplier effect, enhances the future productive capacity of the economy, and results in a higher rate of economic growth. Accordingly, out of the net borrowing ceiling (NBC) of 4 per cent of GSDP for the states for 2021-22, 0.50 per cent of GSDP was earmarked for incremental capital expenditure to be incurred by the states during 2021-22. The target for incremental capital expenditure for each state to qualify for this incremental borrowing was fixed by the department of expenditure.
The next review of capital expenditure of states will be undertaken by the Department of Expenditure in December 2021. In this round, capital expenditure achieved by the states till 30th September, 2021 will be assessed. The third review will be done in the month of March, 2022 on the basis of capital expenditure incurred by the state during the first three quarters of the year 2021-22. The capital expenditure-linked borrowing ceiling of 0.50 per cent of GSDP will be allowed to those states who will achieve actual capital expenditure of at least 45 per cent of the target by September 30, 2021, or 70 per cent of the target by December 31, 2021.
"There would be a final review of actual capital expenditure by the states in the month of June, 2022. Any shortfall/deficiency in actual capital expenditure for the year 2021-22 by the state in comparison with the targeted capital expenditure for the year 2021-22, will be adjusted from the borrowing ceiling of the state for the year 2022-23," the ministry said.
