Union government accounts for April-September 2026 show total receipts of ₹18,35,422 crore, equal to 50.3% of the Budget Estimate, while total expenditure stood at ₹25,49,835 crore, or 47.7% of the Budget Estimate. Capital expenditure was ₹6,54,547 crore and tax devolution to States reached ₹6,99,409 crore.
Half-year fiscal data are useful because they show not only how much the government has spent but also the composition and pace of spending. Capital expenditure can support infrastructure and future productive capacity, while tax devolution affects State fiscal space and the implementation of services that depend heavily on subnational governments.
For civil-services preparation, budget-execution percentages should not be confused with the fiscal-deficit ratio. A sound reading separates receipts, revenue and capital expenditure, borrowing requirements and Centre-State transfers, and asks whether the timing of spending is consistent with both macroeconomic stability and public-investment objectives.