India’s fiscal deficit hit 38.1 percent of the full-year Budget Estimates by August, amounting to Rs 5,98,153 crore. This gap reflects the Centre’s Rs 18.8 lakh crore expenditure against Rs 12.82 lakh crore in total receipts. With the full-year deficit projected at 4.4 percent of GDP, significant spending on interest payments and subsidies underscores the nation’s financial landscape.