NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the Government does not need any extra funds from the Reserve Bank or any other institution to meet the fiscal deficit target.
However, he added that extra funds, which may accrue from the new capital framework of the Reserve Bank, can always be used for poverty alleviation programmes over the years by future Governments.
“We don’t need any extra funds from any other institution to finance our fiscal deficit. Let’s be very clear that’s not the intention of the Government. And we are not saying that in next six months give me some money. I don’t need it,” the Minister said in an interview to TV channel Times Now.
India’s fiscal deficit is slated to come down to 3.3 per cent of GDP at the end of the current fiscal.
Responding to criticism that the Hovernment was eyeing RBI’s reserves, Jaitley said globally central banks have a capital framework which determines the amount of funds that ought to be maintained as reserves.
“All we are saying is there has to be some discussion and some norms under which Reserve Bank will have a capital framework,” he said, adding that surplus funds could be used for poverty alleviation programmes by future Governments over the next several years. (AGENCIES)
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