India’s current account deficit (CAD) widened marginally to $9.7 billion (1.1% of GDP) in Q1 FY25 from $8.9 billion (1% of GDP) in the year-earlier period and a surplus of $4.6 billion (0.5% of GDP) in Q4FY24, as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.

Key Highlights of the RBI Data

• Merchandise Trade Deficit: The primary reason for the CAD widening was the rise in the merchandise trade deficit to $65.1 billion in Q1 FY25 from $56.7 billion in Q1 FY24.
• Services Receipts Growth: Net services receipts rose to $39.7 billion from $35.1 billion a year ago, with increases in exports of computer, business, travel, and transportation services.
• Private Transfer Receipts: Remittances by Indians abroad increased to $29.5 billion in Q1 FY25, up from $27.1 billion in Q1 FY24.
• Primary Income Outflows: Net outgo on the primary income account rose to $10.7 billion, reflecting higher payments on investment income.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): FDI inflows increased to $6.3 billion in Q1 FY25, compared to $4.7 billion in Q1 FY24.
• Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI): FPI inflows moderated significantly to $0.9 billion, down from $15.7 billion in Q1 FY24.
• External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs): ECB inflows decreased to $1.8 billion from $5.6 billion a year ago.
• Non-Resident Deposits: Net inflows from NRI deposits increased to $4.0 billion, compared to $2.2 billion in Q1 FY24.
• Foreign Exchange Reserves: Foreign exchange reserves saw an accretion of $5.2 billion in Q1 FY25, lower than $24.4 billion in Q1 FY24.

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What is the Current Account Deficit and Its Trends? 

• Current account deficit is the difference between exports and imports of goods and services. 
  • It is a key indicator of the country’s external sector.
• Components: It is the sum of Balance of Trade (Export minus Imports of Goods and Services) + Net Factor Income from Abroad (Interest income and Dividends, etc) and Net Transfer Payments ( Eg- Foreign Aid) 
• Formula: Current Account = Trade Balance+Net factor income+Net transfer payments 
• “Twin deficit”: The situation in which one nation has a current account deficit (trade deficit) and Fiscal deficit at the same time.
  • Fiscal Deficit= Total Expenditure- Total Receipts (excluding borrowings).

Causes of Current Account Deficit

Implication of Current Account Deficit

• Depreciation of Rupee: A large current account deficit for a continued period of time can lead to depreciation of rupee, and the demand for foreign currency (especially dollars) will see a rise.
• Inflation: Depreciation of rupee, as a result of continued deficit in the country’s current account, will see prices of imported goods becoming costlier, and in turn pushes the country towards inflation.
• Elevated Interest Rates: It will affect the investment & consumption cycle of the economy.
• Economic Growth: Persistent CAD affects economic imbalances which further hinders sustainable growth prospects of the country.
• Trade Balance: Due to Current account deficits Competitiveness & stability of Domestic Industries will get affected.

Ways to Moderate India’s Current Account Deficit

• Reduce the price of commodities.
• Appreciation of rupee.
• Lessen debt taken from developed nations.
• Reduce foreign ownership of assets.
• Improve the quality of imported goods.
• Reduce non-essential imports of gold, mobiles, and electronics.
• Increase value of exports.

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Balance of Payment and Its Components

• Definition: Balance Of Payment (BOP) is a bookkeeping system that summarises the country’s economic transaction with other countries of the world for a particular period. 
• Impact: BoP keeps track of the trade and investments and transfers in a country with the rest of the world. 
• Components: The BoP is composed of Capital and Current Accounts.