Telangana Fails to Meet Revenue Targets in First Six Months

Hyderabad: Telangana's revenue collection in the first six months of the financial year 2024-25 stood at Rs.1,25,989.74 crore, which is 45.97 per cent of the full year Budget estimates of Rs.2,21,242.23 crore. This marks a modest 5.28 per cent decline in revenue realisation compared to 51.25 per cent revenue collected during the corresponding period last year.

The state’s finances are under pressure due to rising expenditure on interest payments, salaries, pensions, and subsidies. The increasing reliance on borrowings and a dip in non-tax revenue collection, particularly in grant-in-aid from the Centre, exacerbated fiscal challenges, the data showed.

According to a report that the state government submitted to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Friday, the total revenue includes Rs.35,145 crore of borrowings and other liabilities, highlighting a heavy reliance on debt.

The total expenditure stood at Rs.1,23,799.29 crore, accounting for 48.66 per cent of Budget estimates. In comparison, the expenditure for the same period last year was slightly higher at 51.58 per cent.

Telangana faces a revenue deficit of Rs.15,203 crore, a sharp contrast to the projected revenue surplus of Rs.297.42 crore for the fiscal year, the report said. The fiscal deficit stood at Rs.35,120.91 crore, 71.30 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs.49,255.41 crore.

Tax receipts stood at Rs.90,844.45 crore, which is 41.06 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs.2,21,242.23 crore.

Tax revenue was Rs.82,135.38 crore (49.96 per cent of Rs.1,64,397.64 crore), nearly on par with 50.74 per cent recorded in the same period last year, according to the report submitted to the CAG. Non-tax revenue stood at Rs.4,809.33 crore (13.66 per cent of Rs.35,208.44 crore), significantly lower than the 81.36 per cent achieved last year.

Key tax revenues included GST Rs.29,526.14 crore (50.39 per cent of Rs.58,594.91 crore), stamps and registrations Rs.8,359.87 crore (45.86 per cent of Rs.18,228.82 crore), sales tax Rs.18,595.66 crore (55.59 per cent of Rs.33,449.21 crore), Excise duties Rs.10,921.88 crore (42.63 per cent of Rs.25,617.53 crore), state’s share of Central taxes Rs.10,159.63 crore (55.26 per cent of Rs.18,384.19 crore). Non-tax revenue included Centre's grant-in-aid of Rs.3,899.74 crore (18.02 per cent of Rs.21,636.15 crore).

With regard to expenditure patterns, revenue expenditure stood at Rs.1,06,048.40 crore (48 per cent of Rs.2,20,944.81 crore), interest payments Rs.15,152.63 crore (85.46 per cent of Rs.17,729.77 crore), salaries Rs.25,141.39 crore (62.79 per cent of Rs.40,041.79 crore), pensions:Rs.10,069.45 crore (86.50 per cent of Rs.11,641.38 crore) and subsidies: Rs.7,690.12 crore (47.35 per cent of Rs.16,242.42 crore).