Why is Kerala Falling Into an ECONOMIC crisis? Why did Supreme Court intervene? Explained in Detail

Think School
29 Mar 202417:13

Summary

TLDRThe state of Kerala, India, known for its high development and literacy, is facing an unprecedented financial crisis, likened to Sri Lanka's economic turmoil. With a staggering debt of ₹1.11 lakh crores, Kerala struggles to pay salaries and pensions, affecting over 3.5 lakh government employees and 55 lakh social security beneficiaries. The crisis stems from excessive short-term spending, inefficient tax collection, and off-budget borrowings, exacerbated by reduced shares from the central divisible pool of taxes. Kerala's finance minister appeals for central assistance, while the video underscores the importance of understanding state finances and economic indicators for responsible citizenship.

Takeaways

  • 🔴 Kerala is facing a severe financial crisis, with difficulties in paying salaries and managing state expenses, leading to a situation comparable to economic crises in other regions.
  • 🛠 The Kerala government has accrued a significant debt, amounting to over 1 lakh crore, prompting the Finance Minister to seek assistance from the Union Finance Minister.
  • 💸 Kerala's financial woes are partly attributed to using borrowed funds for day-to-day expenses, including salaries and pensions, leading to delayed payments and suspended social security schemes.
  • 🖥 Previous warnings about economic challenges facing Indian states, highlighted in a 2022 RBI case study, underscore the importance of paying attention to state finances.
  • 🛡 Kerala's financial strategy is criticized for excessive short-term spending and insufficient investment in long-term infrastructure, contributing to its debt issues.
  • 📈 The state's revenue collection has significantly declined post-GST, exacerbating its financial instability.
  • 💰 Kerala receives a substantial revenue deficit grant from the central government, challenging the notion of unfair treatment by the Centre.
  • 💵 The allocation of taxes from the central divisible pool to states, which has decreased for Kerala, is a point of contention, highlighting disparities in financial distribution.
  • 📊 Off-budget borrowings have played a role in Kerala's financial predicament, with recent changes in accounting for these borrowings affecting the state's fiscal health.
  • 💳 The situation in Kerala underscores the need for citizens to be informed about economic indicators and government spending to prevent similar crises.

Q & A

  • What is the current financial situation of Kerala?

    -Kerala is facing a severe financial crisis, with the state being on the verge of bankruptcy. It has accumulated a loss of 1, lakh 110,000 crores and is struggling to pay salaries and pensions, using borrowed funds to cover state expenses.

  • How has Kerala's economic crisis impacted its employees?

    -The salaries of 3.5 lakh government employees have been delayed, and those who received their salaries are unable to withdraw the entire amount. Additionally, social security schemes for 55 lakh people have been put on hold.

  • What is the role of the Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC) in Kerala's financial situation?

    -The NBC is a limit imposed by the central government on states, restricting how much they can borrow in a financial year. For Kerala, the NBC for FY 2023-24 stands at 3,244 crores, but due to excessive borrowing in previous years, the center has cut 3,140 crores from Kerala's share, leading to a total borrowing limit of 2,932 crores for the year.

  • Why is Kerala's financial crisis relevant to citizens?

    -The financial crisis in Kerala serves as a cautionary tale for citizens to pay attention to their state's finances. Understanding the economic health of a state is crucial for citizens to make informed decisions and to hold their governments accountable for fiscal responsibility.

  • What are the key economic indicators used to assess a state's financial health?

    -Key economic indicators include capital outlay as a percentage of net expenditure, committed expenditure as a percentage of revenue receipts, interest payments to revenue receipts, and the balance between short-term expenses and long-term investments.

  • How has Kerala's spendthrift nature contributed to its economic crisis?

    -Kerala has spent more on short-term expenses rather than long-term investments, leading to increased spending without a corresponding increase in income. This has resulted in high committed expenditure and interest payments, contributing to the state's financial difficulties.

  • What is the issue with Kerala's tax collection efficiency?

    -Kerala's tax collection efficiency has declined, with the state collecting less revenue per 100 rupees of state income post-GST implementation and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inefficient tax collection has led to reduced revenue and increased reliance on borrowing.

  • What is the divisible pool of taxes and how does it affect Kerala's funding?

    -The divisible pool of taxes refers to a portion of the total tax revenue collected by the central government that is eligible for distribution among states. Kerala argues that its share in this pool has decreased significantly, leading to a shortfall in funds.

  • How has the inclusion of off-budget borrowing affected Kerala's debt situation?

    -Off-budget borrowing, where public sector units raise funds on behalf of the state, has contributed to Kerala's high debt levels. Although this debt does not officially increase the state's borrowing limit, it is indirectly the government's responsibility and can lead to uncontrollable debt growth.

  • What lessons can be learned from Kerala's economic crisis?

    -The crisis highlights the importance of fiscal responsibility, the need for efficient tax collection, and the dangers of off-budget borrowing. It also underscores the role of citizens in monitoring their state's economic health and holding governments accountable.

  • What is the central government's response to Kerala's request for financial assistance?

    -The central government has pointed out Kerala's financial mismanagement and has cut the state's borrowing limit based on past excessive borrowing. The central government also argues that Kerala is one of the most financially unhealthy states in India due to its high committed expenditure and interest payments.

Outlines

00:00

😟 Kerala's Financial Crisis Overview

Kerala, known as 'God's own country' and one of India's most developed states, is facing a severe financial crisis, akin to Sri Lanka's economic turmoil. The state has accumulated a staggering debt of 1.1 lakh crore INR, leading to difficulties in managing basic expenses such as salaries for 3.5 lakh government employees, pension payments, and social security schemes for 55 lakh individuals. Kerala's Finance Minister has reached out to the Union Finance Minister, highlighting the dire situation and seeking federal assistance. The crisis is a result of excessive borrowing, with the state now using loans to cover basic expenditures. A case study from the RBI had previously flagged such economic problems, emphasizing the importance of fiscal prudence for states. The situation underscores the need for citizens to understand and engage with the financial management of their states to prevent similar crises.

05:00

🔍 Analysis of Kerala's Economic Decline

The financial debacle in Kerala is attributed to several key factors, including mismanagement and inefficient fiscal strategies. The state's capital outlay, which is crucial for long-term returns through infrastructure investment, is significantly lower compared to other states. Kerala's committed expenditure, primarily on government salaries, pensions, and interest payments, is alarmingly high, limiting funds available for development and welfare projects. Additionally, Kerala has the highest interest payments as a percentage of its revenue, indicating excessive reliance on borrowing. Despite receiving substantial grants from the central government, Kerala's revenue collection efficiency has plummeted post-GST, exacerbating the fiscal shortfall. These factors, coupled with political disputes over financial management with the central government, have led to Kerala's current economic predicament.

10:02

📉 Factors Behind Kerala's Financial Unhealthiness

Kerala's financial struggles are also deepened by its high off-budget borrowings, which, although not reflected in the state's official accounts, significantly contribute to its debt. This practice has been criticized and curtailed by the central government, impacting Kerala's budget and borrowing capabilities. Kerala argues that recent changes in the finance commission's allocation formula, which now emphasizes more recent population data, unfairly penalize the state for its effective population control measures, reducing its share of the divisible pool of taxes. This, along with grievances regarding the allocation and management of off-budget borrowings, highlights the complexity of federal-state financial relations and the challenges in managing public finance in a diverse and populous country like India.

15:04

📚 Lessons from Kerala's Economic Crisis

The economic crisis in Kerala serves as a critical lesson on the importance of fiscal responsibility and the need for citizens to be aware of their government's financial management. It demonstrates the dangers of spending beyond means, particularly through off-budget borrowings, and the long-term impact such practices can have on a state's financial health. The situation in Kerala emphasizes the need for transparent and prudent financial planning and the role of informed citizenry in holding governments accountable. Moreover, it suggests that economic indicators should be a primary lens through which government performance is evaluated, beyond the usual political rhetoric. Finally, it calls for a balanced approach to fiscal management, where both investment in long-term development and careful borrowing are harmonized.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Financial Crisis

A financial crisis refers to a situation where a government, organization, or individual faces extreme difficulty in meeting their financial commitments, often leading to insolvency. In the context of the video, Kerala is facing a financial crisis due to its inability to pay salaries and pensions, and its reliance on borrowed funds to cover state expenses. This crisis is characterized by a significant fiscal deficit and a lack of funds for essential services.

💡Kerala Government

The Kerala Government refers to the ruling body of the Indian state of Kerala, responsible for governing the state and managing its resources. In the video, the Kerala Government is depicted as struggling with a financial crisis, unable to meet its financial obligations to its employees and pensioners, and seeking assistance from the central government.

💡Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC)

The Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC) is a financial limit imposed by the central government on states, restricting how much they can borrow in a financial year. This limit is determined by the Finance Commission and is calculated as a percentage of the state's GDP. The NBC is a crucial mechanism for fiscal discipline, ensuring that states do not take on unsustainable levels of debt.

💡Fiscal Deficit

A fiscal deficit occurs when a government's expenditures exceed its revenues, resulting in the need to borrow money to cover the shortfall. This is often seen as a measure of a government's financial health and sustainability. In the video, Kerala's high fiscal deficit is indicative of its economic crisis, as it struggles to meet its financial obligations without incurring further debt.

💡Committed Expenditure

Committed expenditure refers to the mandatory spending that a government must undertake, typically including salaries, pensions, and interest payments on debt. A high level of committed expenditure can indicate fiscal strain, as it leaves less flexibility for the government to invest in infrastructure or other areas that could stimulate economic growth.

💡Interest Payments

Interest payments are the costs associated with servicing a government's debt. A high percentage of revenue spent on interest payments can signal financial distress, as it indicates that a significant portion of the government's income is being used to pay off existing debts rather than being invested in the state's future growth.

💡Revenue Deficit Grant

A Revenue Deficit Grant is financial assistance provided by the central government to states to help them bridge the gap between their revenue and expenditure. This grant is intended to support states in managing their budgets and maintaining fiscal stability.

💡Tax Collection

Tax collection refers to the process by which a government gathers taxes from its citizens and businesses. Efficient tax collection is crucial for a state's financial health, as it provides the necessary revenue to fund public services and infrastructure. Inefficient tax collection can lead to a shortfall in government revenue, which may necessitate borrowing or cutting back on services.

💡Divisible Pool of Taxes

The divisible pool of taxes is the portion of total tax revenue collected by the central government that is eligible to be shared among the central government and its states. The distribution of this pool is determined by the Finance Commission based on various factors, including population size, income, and tax collection efficiency.

💡Off-Budget Borrowings

Off-budget borrowings are debts incurred by a government through public sector units or other entities, which do not appear as direct borrowings on the government's balance sheet. These borrowings can circumvent the imposed borrowing limits and lead to uncontrollable debt growth if not properly regulated.

💡Economic Indicators

Economic indicators are quantifiable measures that provide insights into the economic performance and health of a region or country. They include metrics like GDP growth, unemployment rates, and inflation, and are used by governments, businesses, and economists to make informed decisions. In the video, the economic indicators of Kerala, such as capital outlay, committed expenditure, and interest payments, are analyzed to understand the state's financial crisis.

Highlights

Kerala is facing a severe financial crisis, on the verge of bankruptcy with a loss of 1,110,000 crores.

Kerala's financial situation is compared to that of Sri Lanka, with daily headlines about the financial crisis.

Kerala government is using borrowed funds to pay for state expenses, including salaries and pensions.

Salaries of 3.5 lakh government employees are delayed, and some cannot withdraw their entire salary amount.

Social Security schemes for 55 lakh people have been put on hold due to the financial crisis.

Kerala's Finance Minister has written to the Union Finance Minister about the state's grave financial situation.

The state's net borrowing ceiling for 2023-24 is 32,442 crores, but due to over-borrowing in previous years, the center has cut 3,140 crores.

Kerala was allowed to borrow 75% of 29,320 crores in the first 9 months of the financial year but exhausted this amount within the first 6 months.

Kerala's capital outlay as a percentage of net expenditure is significantly lower compared to other states, indicating a lack of investment in infrastructure.

Kerala's committed expenditure, mainly on salaries, pensions, and interest payments, is much higher than other states.

Kerala spent almost 20% of its revenue on interest payments for loans, a concerning figure compared to other states.

Kerala's fiscal deficit and revenue deficit are higher than other states, indicating poor financial management.

Kerala received 53,137 crores in Revenue deficit Grant from the central government, one of the highest in the country.

Kerala's tax collection efficiency has declined, with a drop from 12.4 rupees per 100 rupees of state income to 6.9 rupees post-GST and COVID.

Kerala argues that its share from the divisible pool of taxes has decreased significantly from earlier decades.

The 15th Finance Commission's criteria for distributing revenue among states have changed, affecting Kerala's share.

Kerala had one of the highest off-budget borrowings in the country, which is now being scrutinized by the center.

The central government has decided to include off-budget borrowings in the state's account as debt, affecting Kerala's budget allocation.

Lessons from Kerala's crisis include the importance of economic indicators, responsible spending, and informed citizen vigilance on government finances.

Transcripts

play00:01

hi everybody the state of Kerala is

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nearly bankrupt now the Kerala

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government has been citing a lot of

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financial crisis you would recall in the

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state the state is now facing

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difficulties when it comes to paying

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salaries Kerala has run up a loss of 1

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lakh 110,000 crores because Kerala is on

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the verge of bankruptcy in a shocking

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update a state that is known to be the

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most developed and literal state of

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India the state that is called as the

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God's own country it is now facing an

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economic crisis just like Sri Lanka you

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open the newspapers in Kerala and every

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day the headlines invariably on the

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front page is about financial crisis

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Kerala government seems to be in

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financial crisis Kera Finance Minister K

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balagopal has written to Union Finance

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Minister nirmala sitaraman on the grave

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financial crisis facing the state Kerala

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is using borrowed funds to pay off the

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state's expenses they don't have money

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for pensions for salaries and it's

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spending for months together that's the

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state of Kerala as of last week salaries

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of 3.5 LH government employees are

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delayed the ones who got their salary

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are not able to withdraw the entire

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amount Social Security schemes of 55

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lakh people have been put on hold and

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now the state of Kerala is asking the

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center to bail it out and if you're

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wondering why politics and economics are

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so important for you as a citizen I got

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to tell you that in our case study of

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2022 we presented a case study from the

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rbi's research and this case study

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clearly alerted everyone about this

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ongoing econom iic problem in some

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states of India and like I said in 2022

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even today if you don't pay attention to

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your State's finances your state will be

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in the same condition as Kerala so if

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you want to be a sharp citizen of

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Economics or just a sensible citizen you

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need to understand how did Kerala fall

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into an economic crisis in spite of

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being so educated and development

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focused why couldn't the leaders of Cara

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save the state from this crisis and most

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importantly as citizens of India you

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need to know the lessons that every

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state needs to learn from the fall of

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Kerala before we move on I want to

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quickly thank the 1 person club for

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supporting our content people as the new

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Financial year is about to begin most of

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you will be expecting your appraisals

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right and it is extremely important that

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you manage your money better and take

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control of your finances and just like

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we take resolutions to transform our

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lives every New Year's Eve this new

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Financial year you need to take the

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resolution to take control of your

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finances and this is where 1 person Club

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is here to help you out this company is

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founded by my dear friend Sharon heg

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you join the master class using the link

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in the

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description to understand this fight

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between the state and the center we need

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to understand something called the net

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borrowing ceiling or

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NBC in very simple terms this is a limit

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that is imposed on the states by the

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Cent Cal government which puts a limit

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on how much they can borrow in a

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financial year this is decided by the

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15th Finance commission and it has been

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fixed at 3% of the state's GDP for fi23

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and 24 so if Maharashtra has a gsdp of 1

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trillion rupees then they can borrow or

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take a debt of 3% of this 1 trillion

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that is 30 billion rupees if this is

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clear to you let us try to understand

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why is the center not allowing Kerala to

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borrow more you see for the fiscal year

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of 2023 24 the net borrowing ceiling for

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the state of Kerala stands at

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32,44 cror but in the last few years

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Kerala has borrowed

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3,140 crores extra so this year the

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center has cut this 3,140 crores from

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kerala's share of

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32442 cror this year so in total Kerala

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could borrow

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29,32 cror this year according to the

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NBC limits of fi23 and 24 now another

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rule says that a state can borrow 70 %

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of the total NBC limit within the first

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9 months of a financial year so Kerala

play04:35

was allowed to borrow 75% of

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29,32 CR that is

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2,852 crores for the first 9 months of

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its Financial year but somehow Kerala

play04:46

has exhausted this amount within the

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first 6 months of the financial year

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itself so now they need another 15,000

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crores more than the NBC limit to run

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the state for the rest of the year and

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this is where the tussle between the

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state and the center started state of

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Kerala where a r between the Kerala

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government and the center has rupted

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over financial crisis in the state

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Kerala government seems to be in

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financial crisis and they are blaming

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central government for this are facing a

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lot of uh Decisions by the union

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government which ex uses our financial

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resources there is a serious crunches

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there on the other hand the center told

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Supreme Court that Kerala is one of the

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most financially unhealthy States Kerala

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today with pin Vis sitting in jant man

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in Delhi is the most badly economically

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mismanaged state in in the country so

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now the question over here is how did

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Kerala suddenly fall into such a big

play05:36

debt trap and what is the way forward

play05:39

well the first reason for kerala's

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downfall is its spendthrift in the wrong

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direction how do we know this well we

play05:45

looked at the economic indicators of

play05:47

Kerala now pay very close attention to

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this because you can use the same

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framework to understand how your state

play05:52

is managing its finances so firstly when

play05:56

it comes to Kerala we looked at the

play05:57

capital outlay as a percentage of of its

play06:00

net expenditure as in how much money did

play06:02

Kerala spend into building

play06:04

infrastructure and Roads as compared to

play06:06

its entire expenditure now why is it

play06:09

important because 100 rupees invested in

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capital outlay can give you a return of

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250 rupees in the long run so while

play06:15

Maharashtra spent 13.4% of its expense

play06:18

into Capital outlay Tamil Nadu spent

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12.14 and Kerala only spent

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88.2% similarly the next variable to

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check is its committed expenditure as a

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percentage of Revenue receips in simple

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words if you make one lakhs a month and

play06:33

you have a compulsory expenditure of

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20,000 rupees on rent 10,000 rupes on

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groceries and 10,000 rupees in utilities

play06:40

then your committed expenditure is

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40,000 rupees right so just like that

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committed expenditure in the context of

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a state is the compulsory budget that

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the government has to spend out of its

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expenditure so just like this in the

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context of a state committed expenditure

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is the compulsory expense that the

play06:58

government has to make out of its

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Revenue this is usually on government

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salaries pensions and interest payments

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so if this committed expenditure is less

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then it means that the state is

play07:08

performing well why because if the

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government has money left in its account

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then it can use these savings into

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building better infrastructure or it can

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spend on welfare of the people so in

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this variable while Tamil Nadu stands at

play07:20

64% Maharashtra stood at 56% Gujarat

play07:23

stood at 46% whereas Kerala stood at 70%

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in fact in 2021 while other states had

play07:30

an average committed expense of

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54.9% of the revenue for Kerala it stood

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at 82% so in the context of personal

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finance it's like saying your salary is

play07:40

1 lakh rupees and 70,000 of this money

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is going into groceries rent and

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utilities whereas your friends are only

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spending 55,000 rupees this is the

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status of Kerala with the second

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economic indicator then the next

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variable to check is interest payments

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to revenue receipts as in how much of

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the government's expense is spent on

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interest payments for loans it's like if

play08:00

your salary is 2 lakh rupees and you

play08:02

spend 1.5 lakhs only on paying interest

play08:04

for your home loan then it is obviously

play08:06

bad right so more this interest payments

play08:09

the worse it is for the state now if you

play08:11

look at kerala's performance in 20 2122

play08:14

while other states spent 13.38% of their

play08:17

revenue into interest payments Kerala

play08:19

spent

play08:20

19.98% which is almost 20% of its

play08:22

Revenue into just interest payments and

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today if we compare interest payments to

play08:26

revenue receipts of Kerala while Kerala

play08:28

stands at 19% Maharashtra spent only 11%

play08:32

Tamil Nadu spent 20% Karnataka spent 14%

play08:36

And Gujarat spent only 14% so again

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Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the biggest

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Spenders on interest and as you can see

play08:43

in this chart it was not only greater

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than other states but it is even more

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than the finance commission Target of

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10% and lastly as you can see in this

play08:51

chart both the fiscal deficit and the

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revenue deficit is higher for Kerala

play08:55

than for other states so clearly from

play08:58

this entire analysis we could could see

play08:59

that Kerala has spent more money into

play09:01

short-term expenses rather than

play09:03

long-term Investments and this has led

play09:05

them to spend a lot more money without

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an increase in income this is the first

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problem with Kerala now some people

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might make it political and say that you

play09:13

know what bro the center must have

play09:15

discriminated against Kerala so just so

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you know Kerala is a recipient of 53,1

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37 crores worth of Revenue deficit Grant

play09:24

from the central government as

play09:25

recommended by the 15th Finance

play09:27

commission from 2020 to 2025 and this is

play09:30

one of the highest in the entire country

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so the question over here is in spite of

play09:34

so much Grant suddenly how did Kerala

play09:37

find itself in an economic crisis well

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this is where we started digging even

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further and here's where we found the

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second major reason to be inefficient

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tax collection so while Kerala

play09:48

government collected 12.4 rupees per 100

play09:50

rupee of state income from 1975 to 1986

play09:54

after GST it declined to an extent where

play09:56

it touched 8.2 rupees after 2018 and

play09:59

further decrease to 6.9 rupees during

play10:02

the covid year and during the same time

play10:04

Kerala lost 25,000 crores because they

play10:07

could not follow the new igst regime and

play10:09

they could not Implement GST system

play10:11

quickly so again the state government

play10:13

was left with no choice but to take on

play10:15

more debt these are the reasons why the

play10:18

central government is calling Kerala as

play10:20

financially the most unhealthy state in

play10:22

India now the question is what is

play10:24

kerala's justification for all this

play10:26

because if so much allegations are being

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put on Kerala then the state must have

play10:30

something to say right well as it turns

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out they do kerala's Finance Minister

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argues that kerala's share has been

play10:36

declining from something called the

play10:37

divisible pool of taxes and this is

play10:40

something that makes a lot of sense so

play10:42

understand this carefully the divisible

play10:44

pool of taxes refers to a specific

play10:46

portion of the total tax revenue

play10:48

collected by the central government

play10:49

which is eligible to be shared between

play10:51

the central government and its states

play10:54

and if you look at this chart it usually

play10:55

ranges between 30% to 40% for example

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let let's Imagine India collected 1,000

play11:00

crores in taxes in fi23 and 24 and let's

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say 35.1% of this amount would be

play11:06

distributed among the states so the

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total divisible pool is 351 crores and

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according to the 15th Finance commission

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this 351 crores must be distributed

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among the states according to this table

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so according to this table Kerala will

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get 1.92% that is 6.7 crores Maharashtra

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will get 6.3% that is 22.1 crores

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Karnataka will get 3.6% and so on and so

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forth so Kerala over here argues that in

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the 1990s Kerala was allocated

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3.85% of this divisible pool but fast

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forward to the 15th Finance commission

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this share is almost halfed to

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1.92% and this is the reason why Kerala

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is facing a shortage of funds so this

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breaks the question why is Kerala given

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less share in this divisible pool and

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how is the share decided in the first

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place well this is done by the finance

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Commission of India and they decide how

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to split the revenue between states

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based on income population size of the

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state area and even tax collection of

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the states as compared to each other if

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this is clear let's understand why did

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the 15th Finance commission distribute

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money to the states differently if you

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look at this chart with the 14th Finance

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commission they give 17.5% weightage to

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the 1971 population the 15th Finance

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commission has changed it to zero and

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just like this the weightage has been

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changed for multiple parameters as seen

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on the screen so the problem over here

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that Kerala points out is that if the

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finance commission is giving more

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weightage to the 2011 data then

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obviously it will get less money because

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Kerala has less population and they

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worked very hard to keep the population

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in control so they say that if the

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revenue of the state has been decreased

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because of they controlling the

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population then clearly Kerala is being

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penalized by the center for controlling

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the population so this way Kerala says

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that they're receiving less taxes than

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their fair share and lastly Kerala has a

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problem with something called the

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inclusion of off budget borrowing now I

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know this sounds very very complex but

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if you're listening to something complex

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at think school all you need to

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understand is a simple story so here it

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goes imagine the government wants to

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build a new Railway line which is a very

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expensive project let's say this costs

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10,000 crores now the government has

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already reached its borrowing limit of

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30,000 crores and now the center tells

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them that they cannot borrow more money

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so now what will the state do will it

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keep quiet no as it turns out the

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government could use a public sector

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unit and then raise money so let's call

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this PSU as National Rail infrastructure

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limited so now the national rail

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infrastructure limited goes ahead and

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borrows money either from Banks or

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through bonds now this money is not

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shown as Borrowed by the government so

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it doesn't officially increase the debt

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of the state government but the catch

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over here is that while paying back the

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debt the government itself promises to

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pay back this loan using its future

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budget this means indirectly the

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government is responsible for the debt

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right but the hack over here is that it

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won't appear in the government's budget

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as direct borrowings this is the reason

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why it's called off budget borrowings

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okay so even though on paper the state

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is not borrowing Beyond 30,000 crores in

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reality in this case it has used a PSU

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to borrow another 10,000 crores if this

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is clear let's come back to our story

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Kerala had one of the highest off budget

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borrowings in the country if you look at

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this chart while Kerala has 22% of its

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off budget borrowings as a percentage of

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the total borrowings Maharashtra and

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Gujarat had almost zero off budget

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borrowings and similarly as you can see

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on the screen for sikim and Telangana

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even they have very high off budget

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borrowings so this is very dangerous

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right because even though the debt is

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not reflected in the state's account it

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can grow uncontrollably through the PSU

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borings because there isn't an NBC limit

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on it well guess what this is the reason

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why in March 2022 the center came up and

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said listen guys both your borrowings

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from the state as well as the off budget

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borrowings will be considered in your

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State's account as debt only so you

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cannot hide this debt using the

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instrument of off budget borings so now

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if a state borrowed 1,000 crores extra

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on top of their NBC limits then next

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year they would get 1,000 crores less

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from the center so suddenly the states

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that had more off budget borrowings they

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were in trouble and one of these states

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is Kerala which suddenly got trapped

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because their budget started to get cut

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and Kerala argues that this move is not

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fair and this does make sense because if

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you want to rectify a problem in an

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economy which is as complex as India you

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cannot give a kneejerk reaction you have

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to rectify this problem slowly and

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steadily this is the reason why Kerala

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got stuck in its debt trap and now they

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need another 15,000 crores and this

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brings us to the last part of the

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episode and that are the lessons that we

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need to learn from kerala's economic

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crisis lesson number one people more

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than the Hindu Muslim propaganda and all

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the ridiculous things that go on in the

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mainstream media it is important for has

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to cut through this chaos and learn to

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judge the government on the basis of

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economic indicators so a kind request to

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you is go and check as to how your state

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is handling its finances because that's

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where the real trouble will come number

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two whether you are the king of Dubai

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the state of Kerala or an ordinary

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citizen spending beyond your means is

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going to cost you very heavily in the

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future in this case we saw this with

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off-budget borrowings and lastly

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whenever an economic crisis happens in

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any state or any country for that matter

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it is extremely important for us the

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educated citizens to study the cause and

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the effects of these crisis such that we

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can keep an eye on our government so

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that we don't make the same mistake and

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I just hope I give you a perspective to

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look at your State's economics using all

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the concepts in this case study that's

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all from my side for today guys if you

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learn something viable please make sure

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to hit the like button in order to make

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you baba happy and for more such

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insightful business and political case

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studies please subscribe to our Channel

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and don't forget to attend sharan's

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personal finance Master Class using the

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link in the description thank you so

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much for watching I will see you in the

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next one

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[Music]

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[Music]

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bye-bye

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Kerala CrisisEconomic AnalysisFiscal ResponsibilityGovernment FinanceTax CollectionDebt ManagementIndian StatesFinancial EducationPolicy ImpactPublic Spending