Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji

Panaji, Jan 25: Goa has secured the third position in the inaugural Fiscal Health Index (FHI) released by NITI Aayog, with an impressive score of 53.6. The FHI evaluates the fiscal health of 18 major Indian states, taking into account various factors such as GDP contribution, demographics, public spending, revenues, and fiscal stability.

In the detailed analysis, Goa scored well across several parameters. The state achieved 45.5 for quality of expenditure, 87.1 for revenue mobilisation, 59.4 for fiscal prudence, 51 for debt index, and 25.2 for debt sustainability.

Odisha topped the list with an FHI score of 67.8, followed by Chhattisgarh at 55.2. At the other end, Punjab recorded the lowest score of 10.7. On average, capital expenditure in Goa accounted for 27% of the total developmental expenditure.

While the state has shown commendable fiscal health, NITI Aayog has advised Goa to establish a debt sustainability framework. This would involve creating a comprehensive debt management strategy to address the growing issue of committed expenditures, ensuring long-term fiscal stability for the state.