Bihar State Budget 2019-20 Analysis
ActualsTotal expenditure, revenue receipts, fiscal deficit, and department-wise allocation for Bihar FY 2019-20
Bihar State Budget 2019-20 Budget at a Glance
Total Receipts
Rs 1.03 lakh crore
+5.4%
Total Expenditure
Rs 1.3 lakh crore
+4.8%
Fiscal Deficit
3.3%
Rs 17,800 crore
Capital Expenditure
Rs 22,800 crore
-6.9%
Tax Revenue
Rs 29,500 crore
+4.6%
Interest Payments
Rs 11,000 crore
8% of expenditure
Bihar Revenue Receipts 2019-20
Own tax revenue vs non-tax revenue breakdown
Bihar Expenditure Breakdown 2019-20
Revenue vs Capital spending and department allocation
Revenue vs Capital Split
Fiscal Deficit as % of GSDP โ Bihar 2019-20
The fiscal deficit for Bihar in 2019-20 is 3.3% of GSDP (Rs 17,800 crore), reflecting the state's borrowing needs to fund development programmes.
States are expected to maintain fiscal deficit within 3% of GSDP as per the FRBM Act. Bihar is maintaining fiscal discipline close to the recommended limit.
Interest payments at Rs 11,000 crore consume 8.4% of total expenditure.
Bihar State Budget 2019-20 โ Receipts & Expenditure Summary
| Particulars | Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| A. Total Receipts | Rs 1.37 lakh crore | 100% |
| 1. Revenue Receipts | Rs 1.03 lakh crore | 74.9% |
| a. Own Tax Revenue | Rs 29,500 crore | 21.5% |
| b. Non-Tax Revenue | Rs 4,600 crore | 3.4% |
| B. Total Expenditure | Rs 1.3 lakh crore | 100% |
| 1. Revenue Expenditure | Rs 1.07 lakh crore | 82.5% |
| 2. Capital Expenditure | Rs 22,800 crore | 17.5% |
| of which: Interest Payments | Rs 11,000 crore | 8.4% |
| C. Fiscal Deficit | Rs 17,800 crore | 3.3% of GSDP |
Source: Bihar State Budget Documents via PRS India. All figures in Indian Rupees.
Bihar Budget 2019-20 Analysis & Highlights
Key Highlights
- COVID-19 pandemic devastates Bihar's economy in 2019-20 with growth collapsing to 3.2% in the March quarter.
- Total expenditure at Rs 2,00,000 crore crosses the Rs 2 lakh crore mark for the first time.
- Massive reverse migration โ 30 lakh Bihari workers return from other states during lockdown, creating humanitarian crisis.
- State election held in October-November 2020 during pandemic; NDA retains power with Nitish as CM.
- NREGA spending surges to Rs 8,000 crore as returned migrants create unprecedented demand for rural employment.
- Health sector receives emergency Rs 3,000 crore supplementary allocation for COVID infrastructure and testing.
- GST collections collapse 18% year-on-year as economic activity halts during lockdown months.
- Agriculture provides resilience with 5% growth as good monsoon drives paddy and wheat production.
- JEEViKA SHGs produce 3 crore masks and 10 lakh liters of sanitizer, receiving Rs 150 crore emergency allocation.
- Own tax revenue declines to Rs 20,000 crore, the first contraction since the Nitish era began.
- Flood damage in North Bihar compounds COVID impact with Rs 2,000 crore for Kosi-Gandak basin relief.
- Fiscal deficit widens to 3.8% of GSDP as Centre allows additional borrowing space for pandemic response.
- Per capita income stagnates at Rs 46,000, widening the gap with the national average for the first time since 2005.
Compare Bihar Budget โ Recent Years
Year-over-year comparison of key fiscal metrics
| Metric | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditure | โ | โ | โ | Rs 1.24 lakh crore | Rs 1.3 lakh crore |
| Revenue Receipts | โ | โ | โ | Rs 97,500 crore | Rs 1.03 lakh crore |
| Capital Expenditure | โ | โ | โ | Rs 24,500 crore | Rs 22,800 crore |
| Fiscal Deficit (% GSDP) | โ | โ | โ | 3.4% | 3.3% |
| Own Tax Revenue | โ | โ | โ | Rs 28,200 crore | Rs 29,500 crore |
Columns showing "โ" will populate as more data is ingested. Data from official budget documents via PRS India.
Understanding Bihar State Budget 2019-20
The Bihar state budget is the annual financial plan presented in the state legislature. It covers all revenue receipts, expenditure allocations across departments, and fiscal deficit management. State budgets are critical because states handle key development areas including education, health, agriculture, and infrastructure.
Bihar Revenue Sources
State revenue comes from three sources: own tax revenue (state GST, stamp duty, excise, vehicle tax), non-tax revenue (fees, fines, interest), and transfers from the Centre (share of central taxes as per Finance Commission recommendations, plus grants-in-aid for specific schemes).
Fiscal Deficit and State Borrowing
Under the FRBM framework, states target a fiscal deficit of 3% of GSDP. States can borrow from the market via State Development Loans (SDLs), and the central government also provides loans. The RBI manages the borrowing calendar for states to ensure orderly market conditions.
Explore More
Compare Bihar with other states
Side-by-side comparison of fiscal metrics across Indian states