Correct option is A
The correct answer is (a)
3.0
Explanation: • In the
Bihar Budget 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister
Samrat Chaudhary on February 13, 2024, the gross fiscal deficit was estimated at
2.98% (rounded to
3.0%) of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). • This targeted deficit of
₹29,095 crore is well within the
3.5% limit permitted by the Central Government under the
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) norms. • This estimation reflects the state's efforts to maintain
fiscal discipline while focusing on developmental activities after a high revised fiscal deficit of
8.9% in the previous year (2023-24). • The reduction was primarily attributed to a projected
revenue surplus of
₹1,121 crore (0.1% of GSDP) and better management of capital expenditure. • Maintaining the deficit near the
3% mark allows the state to continue receiving
performance-linked borrowing flexibility and central interest-free loans for infrastructure.
Information Booster: • The
GSDP of Bihar for 2024-25 is projected to be
₹9.76 lakh crore, with a projected growth rate of
15.5% at current prices. • As per the
Bihar Economic Survey 2024-25, the state recorded the
second-highest growth rate in the country at
14.5% (at current prices) during the 2023-24 financial year.
Additional Knowledge:
(b) 3.8 (Option b) • This was not the budgeted estimate for 2024-25; however, some revised projections in later quarters or specific borrowing ceilings (including power sector reforms) can sometimes push the
limit to 3.5%–4.0%, but the
budgeted target was 3.0%.
(c) 5.1 (Option c) • This figure does not correspond to the 2024-25 budget estimates. Bihar's actual fiscal deficit was as high as
4.8% in 2021-22 and
6.0% in 2022-23.
(d) 4.2 (Option d) • While some news reports might cite higher figures for
revised estimates of previous years, the official
Budget Estimate (BE) for the 2024-25 session was strictly targeted at approximately
2.98%.
English
40 Questions
160 Marks
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