Fiscal and monetary response to the COVID-19 pandemic in India
Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management
ISSN: 1096-3367
Article publication date: 2 November 2020
Issue publication date: 26 January 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This article examines the preliminary impact of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic on India's economic and budgetary landscape – the most affected developing country from the first wave of the pandemic. It also includes a discussion of the monetary and fiscal responses adopted and the challenges faced in formulating the response to the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
Using high-frequency economic and fiscal indicators, this article evaluates the economic impact of the pandemic on the Indian economy. Further, it uses data from government sources and news to highlight the measures adopted at the national and subnational level in response to the pandemic.
Findings
The difficult economic conditions prior to the pandemic limited the fiscal space available to the government. As a result, the national and subnational governments have been cautious of accumulating excessive debt and have primarily responded with liquidity-enhancing measures, in addition to some fiscal measures for the most vulnerable. Overdependence on consumption taxes has led to unprecedented revenue shortfalls prompting the exploration of new avenues for revenue generation and implementation of austerity measures – some of which may be counterproductive in the long run.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the policy response of the largest democracy that has been hit hard by the pandemic. It also highlights various institutional and resource constraints that influenced the policies adopted. India's experience in responding to the virus could provide lessons for other developing countries.
Keywords
Citation
Jose, J., Mishra, P. and Pathak, R. (2021), "Fiscal and monetary response to the COVID-19 pandemic in India", Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 56-68. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-07-2020-0119
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited