On April 6, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India termed the Assam government‘s budget for 2021-22 as “unrealistic and overestimated”. The CAG further asked it to formulate expenses based on “reliable assumptions”.
CAG On Assam Government’s Budget
The CAG pointed to the increasing growth rate of the state’s public debt. The CAG, in the State Finances Audit Report for the year ended March 31, 2022′ tabled in the state assembly, said the actual receipts for the year were Rs 99,548.83 crore against the estimation of Rs 1,19,423.05 crore by the state government.
The CAG said, ”The state government should formulate a realistic budget based on reliable assumptions of likely resource mobilisation, the needs of the departments and their capacity to utilise the allocated resources so as to avoid inflated budget without actual resources.”
“In view of the increasing growth rate of its public debt, the state government may make efforts to augment its own revenues and reduce its revenue expenditure so as to avoid pressure on repayment of public debt and interest liabilities,” the CAG further added.