India on track to exceed key fundraising goal on state-firm stake sales
India is poised to achieve its divestment aspirations this fiscal year, with enhanced momentum in stake sales and asset monetisation. Although increased fertiliser costs and fuel subsidies pose a challenge to public financial stability due to regional disputes, the country has already garnered over $5.5 billion from diverse stake sales.
India is anticipated to surpass its fiscal year target of generating Rs 80,000 crore ($8.4 billion) from selling stakes in state-owned firms and other asset monetization methods. This is despite financial pressures stemming from the Middle East conflict, which has surged fertiliser import costs and fuel subsidies. The government recently finalized a Rs 31,550 crore ($3.3 billion) stake sale in Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), its largest divestment in recent years.
Combined with sales of shares in firms like Coal India and Indian Railway Finance Corp, more than $5.5 billion has been raised so far. The long-awaited sale of IDBI Bank's government stake is also expected to conclude this fiscal year, potentially adding another $2.5 billion to state finances. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has assigned quarterly divestment department targets to increase stake-sale receipts.
The government's ambitious privatisation drive in 2021 has lagged behind expectations, with only a few significant sales to date. Officials have increasingly turned to the sale of smaller stakes in listed state-run companies, which are simpler to execute and carry lower political and regulatory risks.
Written by urgent.news from The Economic Times - Economy's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
