Centre to borrow Rs 4.88 lakh cr in April-Sept FY21

 The Union Government plans to borrow Rs 4.88 lakh crore in the first half of the financial year 2020-21.

The borrowing during April-September would be 62.56 per cent of the gross borrowing of Rs 7.8 lakh crore, during the total fiscal.

The decision comes amid the government battling the coronavirus crisis and also trying to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic. Higher borrowing could go into supporting increased expenditure needs of the government.

During the first half of the FY 2019-20, the government borrowed 62.25 per cent of the planned borrowing during the fiscal.

Addressing the media here, DEA Secretary Atanu Chakraborty said the gross market borrowing of Rs 7.1 lakh crore for the year 2019-20 completed successfully with the weighted average yield at 6.85 per cent and weighted average maturity remained at 16.15 years.

He further said that weekly G-Sec tranches of Rs 19,000-21,000 crore during the coming fiscal compared to Rs 17,000 crore during FY2019-20.

"The proposal to issue securities in 2, 5, 10, 14, 30 and 40-year securities along with FRBs (Floating Rate Bonds) of tenor of 13 years," he said.

The T-Bill weekly borrowing would be Rs 25,000 crore in first quarter, net borrowing during April-June would be Rs 1,37,090 crore.

Further, the number of on-the-run securities reduced to 7 from the existing 10 to create more volume under benchmark securities

"Borrowing plan has been drawn up keeping in view the anticipated demand because of the Fully Accessible Route being opened for non-residents investors as well," he said.

Ways and Means Advances (WMA) is proposed to be revised to Rs 1,20,000 crore and would be reviewed on a need-basis, compared to Rs 75,000 crore during the previous year.

Switches auction of G-secs will be held on every third Monday of the month. Switches and buy-back combined will be at Rs 2.7 lakh cr for the whole year, he said.

"G-sec issuances through Debt ETF route is proposed to be rolled out soon by initiating appointment of required intermediaries."

The budget announcement related to debt ETF would be operationalised in second half of the fiscal year. IANS