The Ministry of Finance has released ₹44,000 crores today to the States and UTs with Legislature under the back-to-back loan facility in lieu of GST Compensation. After taking into account the earlier release of ₹ 1,15,000 crore (₹ 75,000 crores released on 15th July 2021 and ₹ 40,000 crores released on 07th October 2021), the total amount released in the current financial year as back-to-back loan in-lieu of GST compensation is ₹1,59,000 crore.
This release is in addition to normal GST compensation being released every 2 months out of actual cess collection.
GST Compensation
Subsequent to the 43rd GST Council Meeting held on 28.05.2021, it was decided that the Central Government would borrow ₹1.59 lakh crore and release it to States and UTs with Legislature on a back-to-back basis to meet the resource gap due to the short release of Compensation on account of the inadequate amount in the Compensation Fund.
This amount is as per the principles adopted for a similar facility in FY 2020-21, where an amount of ₹1.10 lakh crore was released to States under a similar arrangement. This amount of ₹1.59 lakh crore would be over and above the compensation, in excess of ₹1 lakh crore (based on cess collection), that is estimated to be released to States/UTs with Legislature during this financial year. The sum total of ₹2.59 lakh crore is expected to exceed the amount of GST compensation accruing in FY 2021-22.
FY 2021-22 of ₹1,59,000 Crore.
All eligible States and UTs (with Legislature) have agreed to the arrangements of funding of the compensation shortfall under the back-to-back loan facility. For effective response and management of COVID-19 pandemic and a step-up in capital expenditure, all States and UTs have a very important role to play.
For assisting the States/UTs in their endeavour, the Ministry of Finance has frontloaded the release of assistance under the back-to-back loan facility during FY 2021-22 of ₹1,59,000 crore.
Infrastructure Projects
The release of ₹44,000 crores being made now is funded from borrowings of GoI in 5-year securities issued in the current financial year, at a Weighted Average Yield of 5.69%. No additional market borrowing by Central Government is envisaged on account of this release.
It is expected that this release will help the States/UTs in planning their public expenditure among other things, for improving, health infrastructure and taking up infrastructure projects.
(Economy India)
