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Nominal GDP pegged at 10.5%-11% for FY27, fiscal deficit seen at 4.2%: Report
ET Bureau | January 27, 2026 5:57 AM CST

Synopsis

An SBI report projects nominal GDP growth at 10.5-11% for FY27, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.2%. Capital expenditure is expected to surpass ₹12 lakh crore. The report also highlights the need for better expenditure planning and suggests states adopt medium-term debt paths aligned with growth needs.

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New Delhi: Nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth for FY27, a key assumption for Budget calculations, is projected at 10.5-11%, as rising international commodity prices are likely to feed into wholesale inflation, according to a State Bank of India (SBI) report released on Monday.

The fiscal deficit is estimated at 4.2% of GDP for FY27, while the government's borrowing cost is expected to be 6.8-7%. Capital expenditure is projected to exceed ₹12 lakh crore in FY27, recording a growth rate of 10% year-on-year.

The report cautioned that slightly slower nominal growth could weigh on tax revenues in FY27, necessitating better expenditure planning. However, GST rationalisation and a reduction in marginal tax rates for personal income-tax are expected to partially offset the impact of a slower expansion in the tax base.


SBI noted that the new GDP series with the base year 2022-23, set to be released on 27 February, could affect the fiscal math.

According to SBI Research, the trend of personal income-tax collections surpassing corporate tax collections is likely to continue in the FY27 Budget. The report estimates gross market borrowing over the next five fiscal years at ₹93.8-95.2 lakh crore, underscoring the need for borrowings from other sources such as small savings.

The central government has outlined a clear medium-term fiscal consolidation roadmap, with its debt-to-GDP ratio projected to decline to 56.1% in FY26 from 57.1% in FY25. It has also committed to placing central government debt on a declining trajectory towards around 50% (± 1%) of GDP by March 2031, barring major external shocks.

Highlighting the significant contribution of states to overall public debt, the report recommended that state governments adopt medium-term - and preferably scenario-based - debt-to-GSDP paths aligned with realistic growth assumptions and development needs, rather than focusing solely on annual deficit targets.


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