What the Union government borrows in a year: everything it spends minus everything it receives other than borrowing, as a share of GDP.
| Period | Value | Status | Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 4.3 | Budget estimate | |
| 2025-26 | 4.4 | Revised estimate | |
| 2024-25 | 4.8 | Actual | |
| 2023-24 | 5.6 | Actual | |
| 2022-23 | 6.4 | Actual | |
| 2021-22 | 6.7 | Actual | |
| 2022-23 | 5.3 | ||
| 2018-19 | 2.3 | ||
| 2017-18 | 2.5 | ||
| 2016-17 | 2.4 | ||
| 2015-16 | 2.8 | ||
| 2014-15 | 3.3 | ||
| 2013-14 | 4.1 | ||
| 2012-13 | 3.8 | ||
| 2011-12 | 3.2 | ||
| 2010-11 | 3.5 | ||
| 2009-10 | 5.5 | ||
| 2008-09 | 5.0 | ||
| 2007-08 | 0.5 | ||
| 2006-07 | 2.3 | ||
| 2005-06 | 3.2 | ||
| 2004-05 | 3.3 | ||
| 2003-04 | 3.4 | ||
| 2002-03 | 4.7 | ||
| 2001-02 | 4.3 | ||
| 2000-01 | 3.8 | ||
| 1999-00 | 3.3 | ||
| 1998-99 | 3.3 | ||
| 1997-98 | 2.8 | ||
| 1996-97 | 2.0 | ||
| 1995-96 | 2.2 | ||
| 1994-95 | 2.4 | ||
| 1993-94 | 3.9 | ||
| 1992-93 | 2.3 | ||
| 1991-92 | 2.3 | ||
| 1990-91 | 3.4 | ||
| 1989-90 | 2.8 | ||
| 1988-89 | 3.1 | ||
| 1987-88 | 3.1 | ||
| 1986-87 | 2.9 | ||
| 1985-86 | 2.3 | ||
| 1984-85 | 2.0 | ||
| 1983-84 | 1.3 | ||
| 1982-83 | 0.8 | ||
| 1981-82 | 0.5 | ||
| 1980-81 | 1.0 | ||
| 1979-80 | 0.9 | ||
| 1978-79 | 0.1 | ||
| 1977-78 | −0.2 | ||
| 1976-77 | −0.1 | ||
| 1975-76 | −0.1 | ||
| 1974-75 | 0.1 |
It is the headline fiscal number. The deficit adds to the government's debt, and borrowing to cover it competes with private borrowers for savings. The FRBM Act sets the medium-term goal; since 2025-26 the Centre targets the debt-to-GDP ratio.
Actual years are what the accounts later showed; the latest year is a revised estimate and the coming year only a budget estimate. Off-budget borrowing is not counted.