India's NCAER report highlights debt issues in most states, calls for stricter fiscal control.

The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) study highlights that only four Indian states have successfully reduced their debt-to-GSDP ratio over the past decade, while others, particularly Punjab and Rajasthan, are at risk of reaching unsustainable debt levels. NCAER recommends collaboration between the central government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and the Finance Commission to enforce fiscal discipline. The report suggests creating independent fiscal councils for each state, revising the RBI's policies on bond spreads, and proposing a "fiscal grand bargain" for debt relief in exchange for increased central oversight. This approach aims to improve state financial management and stability, addressing India's high subnational debt among BRICS countries.

6 weeks ago
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