With marginal improvement in total receipts and containment of expenditure, the central government's fiscal deficit stood at Rs 38,608 crore (Rs 386.08 billion) in the first quarter of this year.

The fiscal deficit in April-June this year amounted to 25.1 per cent of the budget estimate of Rs 1,53,637 crore (Rs 1536.37 billion) for the whole year, according to Controller General of Accounts.

The government's fiscal deficit was 29.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2001-02.

Total receipts stood at Rs 38,114 crore (Rs 381.14 billion) in the first three months of this year even as tax revenue mop-up slowed down. The receipts during April-June constituted 13.4 per cent of the budgeted Rs 2,85,158 crore (Rs 2851.58 billion) for 2003-04.

Tax revenue collected was Rs 19,172 crore (Rs 191.72 billion) in the first three months of this fiscal, which was 10.4 per cent of the Rs 1,84,169 crore (Rs 1841.69 billion) estimated for the whole year.

Total expenditure was contained to Rs 76,722 crore (Rs 767.22 billion) during April-June, which was 17.5 per cent of the budgeted Rs 4,38,795 crore (Rs 4,387.95 billion) for 2003-04.

Non-plan expenditure and plan expenditure stood at Rs 57,501 crore (Rs 575.01 billion) and Rs 19,221 crore (Rs 192.21 billion) respectively during the first quarter of this year.

Both the expenditures constituted 18.1 per cent and 15.9 per cent of the budgeted Rs 3,17,821 crore (Rs 3178.21 billion) and Rs 1,20,974 crore (Rs 1209.74 billion) respectively for 2003-04.

There was all round good performance in the primary and revenue deficits in the first quarter as compared to that in the corresponding period in 2002-03.