Finmin, RBI to firm up borrowing schedule for second half soon

Finance Ministry and Reserve Bank officials will meet in the next 10-12 days to decide on a schedule for government borrowings for the second half of the current fiscal.

"RBI and Finance Ministry officials will meet over the next 10-12 days to finalise indicative calendar for borrowing for the second half of the fiscal (October-March 2009-10)," Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters.

The government in the budget had proposed to borrow Rs 4.51 lakh crore (4.51 trillion) during the current fiscal, up from Rs 3.1 lakh crore (Rs 3.1 trillion) during 2008-09. It had planned to borrow bulk of the amount during the first half.

The government borrowing, sources said, will not exceed Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion)in a week during the second half and the entire programme will be completed by February 2010.

The government on Monday announced austerity measures in view of the pressure on the exchequer due to the economic downturn and drought situation in many parts of the country.

The Finance Ministry in an order asked every ministry and department to cut non-plan expenditure like foreign and domestic travel by 10 per cent among other things.