If https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🇮🇳" title="Flagge von Indien" aria-label="Emoji: Flagge von Indien"> India had total assets of Rs 1 crore, here’s how its entire financial situation would look like.

A thread on https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💰" title="Geldsack" aria-label="Emoji: Geldsack"> financial prudence of Indian government.
1/ India generates an impressive 20% returns on its assets.

Indian govt revenue (2018) ₹39.29 trillion is 20% of its GDP ~ ₹190 trillion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_India">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econ...
2/ Unfortunately, India’s expenses are 30% higher than its income.

Indian govt expenses (2018) ₹52.03 trillion vs Indian govt revenue (2018) ₹39.29 trillion
4/ How much of this debt is foreign debt?

The debt of India as a whole (not just govt) is 20% owed to non-Indians.

https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/STATUS%20REPORT%202018-19.pdf">https://dea.gov.in/sites/def...
5/ The govt owes just 5% of its total debt directly to foreigners.

(However, that’s a misnomer because many of the banks that purchase govt bonds raise capital overseas. So in reality govt owes a lot more to foreigners) https://commodity.com/debt-clock/india/">https://commodity.com/debt-cloc...
6/ Is foreign debt a problem?

Well, India’s imports 50% more than it exports. In 2018-19, India imported $514 Billion while exported only $330 billion. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_India">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Econ...
7/ So if India is unable to finance its trade deficit, Indians may have to give up many of its imported luxuries (The biggest one being petrol, but iPhones too).
8/ But can’t India simply print rupees to pay its debt?

Well, India can print rupees to pay back national debt. But 2/3rd of its foreign debt is non-rupee currency denominated.

As you may have guessed, India cannot print US dollars.

https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/STATUS%20REPORT%202018-19.pdf">https://dea.gov.in/sites/def...
9/ So, to summarise:

- India’s expenses > India’s income
- India has growing debt
- India as imports > exports (that are financed through foreign currency debt)
- This is unsustainable (in the long run)
10/ To make it sustainable, India has to:

- Increase its revenue (improve tax collection)
- Increase its exports (become more competitive)
- Reduce its reliance on imports (crude oil mainly)

That’s it. Hope you liked the thread :)
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