Buoyancy in revenue collections notwithstanding, the country's fiscal deficit during April-November 2006 touched 72.8 per cent of the total budget target for the entire financial year.

The Centre's fiscal deficit grew to Rs 1,08,201 crore (RS 1082.01 billion) during April-November 2006-07. The budget estimate for this fiscal is Rs 1,48,686 crore (Rs 1486.86 billion), according to the data released by the Controller General of Accounts on Friday.

Revenue deficit was more pronounced at Rs 84,483 crore (Rs 844.83 billion) in the first eight months of this financial year, accounting for almost the entire of the budget target of Rs 84,727 crore (Rs 847.27 billion).

Against budgetary targets, the Centre's fiscal deficit so far in 2006-07 is slightly less compared to 74.7 per cent in the corresponding period last year, while revenue deficit was much larger compared to 91.5 per cent a year ago.

The deficits increased primarily on account of rise in non-plan expenditure. According to the data, the government's total expenditure stood at Rs 3,36,539 crore (Rs 3365.39 billion), 59.7 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs 5,63,991 crore (Rs 5639.91 billion) against 57 per cent last year.

The non-plan expenditure stood at Rs 2,45,393 crore (Rs 2453.93 billion). This is 62.7 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs 3,91,263 crore (Rs 3912.63 billion) against 56.8 per cent a year ago.

At the same time, plan expenditure stood at Rs 91,146 crore, 52.8 per cent of the estimate of Rs 1,72,728 crore (Rs 1727.28 billion) for the entire year as compared to 57.4 per cent last year.

During the period, the government collected total revenue of Rs 2,21,190 crore (Rs 2211.9 billion). This was 54.8 per cent of the budgeted amount of Rs 4,03,465 crore (Rs 4034.65 billion) for the fiscal.