Data Point: 12 Oct 2023

India has high debt like China, but risks are moderated: IMF

Context:

• As per the International Monetary Fund(IMF), India’s debt level is similar to that of China, but the risks associated with India’s debt are comparatively lower than China.
• The IMF recommended that India should pursue an ambitious fiscal consolidation plan in the medium term to reduce deficits.
• The current debt in India stands at 81.9 per cent of GDP as compared to 83 per cent of China. 
• The deficit projected for India for 2023 is at 8.8 per cent projected for 2023. 
  • 5.4% of GDP is paid as  an expenditure on interest with the primary deficit being 3.4%. 

3.21 lakhs cases pending before Information Commmission

• A report card by voluntary organisation Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) on the performance of information commissions (IC) shows that the backlog of appeals and complaints under the Right to Information(RTI) Act have been steadily rising across states.
• The performance report marks the 18th anniversary of RTI law that came into force on October 12, 2005.

Findings of report:

• The data shows that overall over 2.2 lakh appeals and complaints were registered between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 by 28 ICs. 
• During the same time period more than 2.14 lakh cases were disposed of by 29 commissions.
• Over 3.2 lakh appeals and complaints were pending as on June 30 this year in 27 ICs.
• The analysis found that six commissions including the Central Information Commission and state ICs of Manipur, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Punjab are currently without a chief. 
• The CIC is currently working with only four commissioners even as seven posts are vacant. 
• Four commissions in Jharkhand, Telangana, Mizoram and Tripura are defunct as no new commissioners have been appointed after the incumbents demitted office.