INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Modi's government, including handouts for farmers and tax cuts for the lower middle class, is likely to weigh on whoever forms the next
administration, economists warned on Friday.The government abandoned its budget deficit target for the next financial year ending March 31,
2020, saying it now aimed to come in at 3.4 per cent of gross domestic product against an earlier goal of 3.1 percent, as it tries to tackle
a rural incomes crisis partly caused by low crop prices
But it did keep the target at 3 per cent for the 2020-21 year.Economists fear some of the assumptions built into the math for those goals
are too aggressive - especially its forecasts for strong tax revenue growth.That means they are unconvinced that the next government -
whether PM Modi wins the election, due by May, or not - will hit the deficit goals in those two years."The next government will likely
inherit some fiscal risks as revenue expectations look ambitious," said Mitul Kotecha, senior emerging market strategist at TD Securities in
Singapore."If there is no real pick up in tax collections, then the next government will need to take further steps to stick to the fiscal
deficit target."That could include cutting capital spending, which could hurt an economy that badly needs improved infrastructure.It also
gives the next government little wiggle room if the global economy keeps slowing.PM Modi-led government pledged 75,000 crore rupees ($10.56
billion) to make direct payments to farmers owning less than two hectares of land, and allocated more money for rural jobs and development,
such as better roads.The lower middle class were helped as the income tax threshold has been raised to 5,00,000 rupees from 2,50,000
rupees.To support its spending the government is banking on an "ambitious" 18 per cent increase in goods and services tax collection to 7.61
think, ultimately, their spending plans look very unfeasible to me, so I wouldn't be surprised to see spending get cut later in the year,"
said Shilan Shah, senior India economist at Capital Economics in Singapore.Investors are also lowering expectations for rate cuts by the
central bank because of the concerns about whether the government can reach the budget targets.In a sign of waning market sentiment, the
10-year benchmark bond yield ended at 7.61 per cent, up 13 basis points from Thursday, the biggest single-day selloff since last September
The rupee also weakened to 71.26 to the dollar from Thursday's 71.09, though the broader NSE stock index ended up 0.59 percent.COMPLEX
ALLIANCEFor PM Modi, the optics of the budget will be as important as the implementation of many of the measures
It will be for the next government to deal with any fallout.Investors will be putting pressure on the next government to be prudent but that
may be easier said than done if a complex alliance ends up in power."Investors will look for signs of fiscal consolidation from the new
government even if it is a weaker coalition," said Garima Kapoor, economist at Elara Capital in Mumbai
"However, fiscal consolidation is harder in coalition politics due to additional demands from various parties
Markets will likely be more nervous ahead of elections."Find LIVE Budget 2019, updates, latest news, videos, key highlights, reactions, tax
Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more on Union Budget 2019.
