Do We Need New Rules To Rein In High Debt States? 

The Indian economy may soon be moving towards a new fiscal framework. A committee headed by former Revenue Secretary NK Singh has suggested that the debt-to-GDP ratio should become the principal anchor for fiscal policy. The fiscal deficit would still be the operational target but the central and state governments would need to bring debt levels down to a certain percentage of the gross domestic product.

An overall ceiling of 60 percent has been suggested for the combined debt-to-GDP ratio. The target is to be achieved by 2023. There are, however, sub-targets and state debt has to be brought down to 20 percent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) over this period. The recommendations come at a time when concerns around state finances are rising due to widening deficits and increasing borrowings.

The debt stock of states, at 21 percent currently, is close to the prescribed aggregate levels. However, a closer look shows wide variations in the performance of individual states.

Analysis of data from state budget estimates and non-profit research organisation PRS Legislative Research shows that 12 of 29 states had debt-to-GSDP ratios above 25 percent in fiscal 2017. The variation in debt reflects the different growth trajectories followed by individual states and the manner in which they have managed their expenses and borrowings.

According to Jayanta Roy, group head for corporate sector ratings at ICRA Ltd. and Aditi Nayar, principal economist at ICRA, state government indebtedness and leverage levels (inclusive of guarantees) differ widely at present. While certain states, such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, have indebtedness well below 20 percent of GSDP already, there are others that are well above that level.

In a response to an email query from BloombergQuint, Roy and Nayar wrote that this divergence could widen. Factors that would add to the stress, in different degrees across states, in the near term include servicing of UDAY (Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana) bonds, pay revisions, as well as loan waivers that a few states may choose to announce, they said.

UDAY bonds are being used to substitute debt held by state electricity distribution companies (DISCOMS) with state government bonds. While this may ease the burden for DISCOMS, state debt levels may rise. States will also need to absorb pay hikes recommended by the Seventh Pay Commission.

The committee reviewing the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act recognized this divergence and the consequent need for a more granular fiscal framework for states, said committee chairman NK Singh in an interview with BloombergQuint last week.

The committee has recommended that the one of the terms of reference for the Fifteenth Finance Commission should be to set rules for the inter se management of state debt.

“There are two aspects to it. One is the overall debt of the states which is 20 percent, which the report has pointed out. The other, of course, is the inter se balancing between the states and that responsibility and obligation we feel is best left to the Fifteenth Finance Commission,” said Singh

Roy and Nayar say that the Finance Commission may need to draw out different trajectories for individual states to ensure that the burden of bringing down state debt is shared fairly. An enforcement mechanism may also be needed.

Such a framework is essential because the markets tend to treat all states at par. State government debt is priced at a certain spread above central government debt, and there is no distinction made between states that have high levels of debt and those who do not.

In a February 22 report, Sajjid Chinoy, chief Asia economist at JPMorgan, wrote that this can be attributed to the market perception of an implicit sovereign guarantee on state debt as well as a largely captive investor base.

Chinoy, like others, says that unless state deficits are brought back down, “state debt dynamics could quickly get on to an explosive path.” This, in turn, could derail the FRBM Review Committee's recommendation to bring consolidated debt down to 60 percent by 2023.