Centre’s Fiscal Deficit Touches Rs 12.52 Lakh Crore at Feb-End

New Delhi: The central government’s fiscal deficit stood at 12.52 lakh crore rupees at the end of February, or 80.4 per cent of the 2025-26 annual budget target, according to government data released on Monday. This rate was 85.8 percent in the previous year.

The Center estimates the fiscal deficit (difference between expenditure and revenue) in 2025-26 to be 4.4 per cent of GDP or Rs 15.58 lakh crore. According to the monthly accounts released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the Centre’s total revenue stood at Rs 27.91 lakh crore as of February-end 2026, or 82 per cent of the budget target.

According to CGA data, the receipts included tax revenue (net) of Rs 21.45 lakh crore and non-tax revenue of Rs 5.8 lakh crore. “The central government’s total expenditure during April-February 2025-26 stood at 40.44 lakh crore rupees or 81.5 per cent of the entire fiscal year budget target,” the data showed.