Chhattisgarh has topped in the list of States in many fiscal parameters released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its annual publication for 2013-14, according to an official press release issued here on Thursday claimed.
The RBI report was released on January 22 titled ‘State Finances-A study of Budgets of 2013-14’. Incidentally, Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh also holds the Finance portfolio in the new Cabinet after the formation of the BJP Government for the third time in the State. As per the RBI study, Chhattisgarh's Development expenditure as per cent of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is the highest in the country. In Chhattisgarh, it is 20.7 per cent whereas all States' average is 11.4 per cent.
On this parameter, Bihar is second (16.8), Madhya Pradesh and Goa third (15.7) and Jharkhand is fourth (14.7), it stated. Similarly, in respect of Social Sector expenditure that includes Education, Health, SC/ST development, Women and Child Development etc.,Chhattisgarh holds the first rank. Social Sector Expenditure in Chhattisgarh as per cent of GSDP is 14 per cent whereas Bihar (11.3) is second, Madhya Pradesh (9.7) and Uttar Pradesh (9.7) are third and Jharkhand (9.2) is fourth. Chhattisgarh also has the second highest Capital Outlay as per cent of GSDP after Goa. In Chhattisgarh, it is 4.2 per cent which almost double the all States' average (NSC), the press release stated while quoting the RBI publication.