How big is India's fiscal deficit so far this year?

History

The fiscal deficit is total government spending minus its non-debt receipts, counted from 1 April. The figure rises through the year, so it is read against the Budget Estimate and against the same point last year (36.5% at the end of September 2025).

The figures side by side

How we got this number

1. Take the 'Fiscal Deficit (12-7)' line from the Controller General of Accounts' monthly 'Union Government Accounts at a Glance' for September 2026: ₹7,14,413 crore actual against a Budget Estimate of ₹16,95,768 crore.
2. Read the share of the Budget Estimate from the same row: 42.1 per cent now, and 36.5 per cent in brackets for the same period last year.
3. Put it next to the earlier months of 2026-2027 from the same monthly statement: ₹1,62,354 crore at the end of May, ₹3,07,833 crore in June, ₹4,55,144 crore in July and ₹7,10,249 crore in August.

What this number does not tell you

• The CGA says the monthly figure is not necessarily an indicator of the fiscal deficit for the year, because the timing of receipts and spending differs across months.
• The chart is cumulative from April, so each month is higher than the one before. It is not a monthly deficit.
• The CGA statement prints no release date, only the month it covers.

Sources

1. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, end of September 2026, as at the end of September 2026GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNION GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS AT A GLANCE AS AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER 2026 (Rs. in Crore ) @@ Budget Estimates 2026-2027* Actuals @ upto September 2026 % of Actuals to Budget Estimates Rs. Rs. Current COPPY**
2. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, September 2026, expenditure and deficit rows, as at the end of September 202612 Total Expenditure (8+10) (Details) 5347315 2549835 47.7 % (45.5%) 13 Fiscal Deficit (12-7) 1695768 714413 42.1 % (36.5%) 14 Revenue Deficit (8-1) 592344 138468 23.4 % (5.2%) 15 Primary Deficit (13-9) 291796 68403 23.4% (-1.7%)
3. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, end of August 2026, as at the end of August 202613 Fiscal Deficit (12-7) 1695768 710249 41.9 % (38.1%)
4. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, end of July 2026, as at the end of July 202613 Fiscal Deficit (12-7) 1695768 455144 26.8 % (29.9%)
5. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, end of June 2026, as at the end of June 202613 Fiscal Deficit (12-7) 1695768 307833 18.2% (17.9%)
6. CGA, Union Government Accounts at a Glance, end of May 2026, as at the end of May 202613 Fiscal Deficit (12-7) 1695768 162354 9.6 % (0.8%)

Questions people ask

What is India's fiscal deficit for April to September 2026?

₹7,14,413 crore, or 42.1% of the Budget Estimate of ₹16,95,768 crore (Controller General of Accounts).

How does it compare with last year?

At the end of September 2025 the deficit was 36.5% of that year's Budget Estimate, against 42.1% now.

Does 42.1% mean the full-year target will be missed?

Not by itself. The CGA warns that the monthly figure is not a guide to the full-year deficit, because receipts and spending are uneven through the year.

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This figure is from Controller General of Accounts's own release or a report quoting it. We recheck it monthly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.