What is the Concept of Public Debt?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 12th, 2023
According to the Public Debt, Public Debt is the total amount borrowed by a country’s government. The total liabilities of the Union government that must be paid from the Consolidated Fund of India are included in public debt. It is the total amount borrowed by the government to meet its development budget, including total liabilities.
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Public Debt in India
Public debt is the amount of money that a government owes to outside debtors. It is the amount borrowed by the government of a country. The central government broadly classifies its liabilities into two categories such as debt contracted against the Consolidated Fund of India and public account.
- Public debt sources are treasury bills, dated government securities (G-Secs), short-term borrowings, and external assistance.
- It must be paid from India’s Consolidated Fund. The term is also used to refer to the total liabilities of the central and state governments, but the Union government clearly differentiates its debt liabilities from those of the states.
- The central government divides its liabilities into two categories: debt owed to the Consolidated Fund of India and public accounts.
- The Union government has followed a deliberate strategy over the years to reduce its reliance on foreign loans in its overall loan mix.
- Internal debt accounts for more than 93% of total public debt. Internal loans, which account for the majority of public debt, are further classified as marketable and non-marketable debt.
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