Hyderabad: Telangana’s financial position in the first quarter of the fiscal year appears strained, according to the latest report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The state is grappling with high deficits and lower-than-expected revenue collections.As of June, the state recorded a revenue deficit of ₹10,582 crore—meaning it spent that much more than it earned. This is a sharp contrast to the budget’s projection of a ₹2,738 crore surplus.The fiscal deficit, which measures how much the govt needs to borrow to meet all its expenses, stood at ₹20,266 crore. That’s already 37.5% of the annual target of ₹54,009 crore—just within the first three months.The primary deficit—which is the fiscal deficit minus interest payments on past loans—reached ₹13,493 crore, which is nearly 39% of the ₹34,640 crore planned for the year.Income: Far behind projectionsThe state’s total receipts in the first quarter—including ₹20,266 crore raised through borrowings—stood at ₹57,499 crore. This is just 21% of the ₹2.84 lakh crore projected for the full year.Around 24% of this income came from the Centre in the form of Telangana’s share of central taxes and grants.Interest payments alone amounted to ₹6,772 crore—about 35% of the annual allocation of ₹19,369 crore—raising concerns about the state’s ability to manage future debt.Salaries, pensions, and subsidies dominate spending. On the expenditure side, a significant portion of the budget has already been used up. On salaries and wages, ₹11,608 crore was spent, which is nearly 35% of the annual ₹44,478 crore target. On pensions, ₹4,572 crore (34.9% of the ₹13,109 crore estimate) was used and subsidies, mainly for free electricity, cost ₹5,932 crore—over 36% of the ₹16,345 crore set aside for the year.What do these deficits mean?A revenue deficit means the state’s income isn’t enough to cover its regular expenses like salaries and subsidies.A fiscal deficit shows the overall gap between total income and total expenditure, including capital and interest costs.A primary deficit isolates current borrowing needs, leaving out the burden of interest on older debts. Key revenue figures:Tax revenue: ₹35,721 crore (20.4% of the ₹1.75 lakh crore target)GST collections: ₹12,622 crore (out of ₹59,074 crore projected)Stamp and registration fees: ₹3,712 crore (19.5% of ₹19,087 crore)State excise duty: ₹4,595 crore (16.6% of ₹27,623 crore)Sales tax: ₹8,466 crore (22.6% of the ₹37,463 crore estimate)
