Zee Media Bureau
India’s external debt at end-December 2014 stood at USD 461.9 billion, showing an increase of USD 15.5 billion (3.5 percent) over the level at end-March 2014.
External debt to GDP ratio was recorded at 23.2 percent at end-December 2014 compared to 23.7 percent at end-March 2014.
The rise in external debt during the period was due to an increase in long-term debt such as commercial borrowings and NRI deposits. Short-term external debt, however witnessed a decline during the period.
Long-term debt at end-December 2014 was USD 376.4 billion, reflecting an increase of 6.1 percent over the level at end-March 2014. Long-term debt accounted for 81.5 percent of total external debt at end-December 2014 as against 79.5 percent at end-March 2014.
Short-term external debt was USD 85.6 billion at end-December 2014, showing a decline of 6.7 percent over the level at end-March 2014.
Short-term debt accounted for 18.5 percent of total external debt at end-December 2014 as against 20.5 percent at end-March 2014.