5.1.1 Statistical presentation

• Data are disseminated in crore of rupees (1 crore=10 million) on general government operations, covering the combined budgetary transactions of the Central and State Governments and the Union Territories.

• The fiscal year begins on April 1 and ends on March 31.

4.1.1 Periodicity

• Annual
• Twice a year : General Government Operations; Provisional Data  in August in Annual Report and September issue of Reserve Bank of India Bulletin. Final data in RBI bulletin Co-terminus with the publication of "State Finances : A Study of Budgets" by RBI.

4.1.2 Timeliness

• Approximately 9 months after the end of the reference year.
• General Government Operations : 6 months – Provisional data. Final Data Co-terminus with the publication of "State Finances : A Study of Budgets" by Reserve Bank of India.

5.1.3 Advance release calendar

• An Advance release calendar that meets the SDDS requirements is published on the IMF's DSBB. Information to this effect is published in the Monthly Economic Bulletin available from the Reserve Bank of India.

5.1.4 Simultaneous release

• The data are simultaneously released to all interested parties by publishing in the ( Reserve Bank of India Annual Report, Reserve Bank of India, bulletin September issue (Provisional Data)and the final data in the issue co terminus with the publication of 'State Finances: 'A study of Budgets  By Reserve Bank of India ) under the heading  Combined Receipts  and Disbursements of the Central and State Governments. "

0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics

Ministry of Finance

• The statistical system is decentralized, with the respective ministries having responsibility for the statistics on the subjects under their charge. The Ministers in charge of the respective departments are the final authority for all statistical policies. Under the terms of the Indian Constitution, the Ministers are responsible to the Parliament.

General government or public sector operations

• The data on general government are compiled and disseminated by the RBI as a service to the public.
  
  
• Compilation and publication of data on the central and state government operations are governed by Articles 112, 150 and 202 of the Constitution of India.
  
  

0.1.2 Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies

           Data sharing and coordination among data producing agencies are adequate.

0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data

Ministry of Finance

• Confidentiality of individual responses is maintained.

0.2.1 Staff, facilities, computing resources, and financing

                Staff facilities, computing resources etc. are adequate.

0.2.2 Ensuring efficient use of resources

                            Training is given to staff in use of computer etc.

0.4.1 Quality policy

                    The institutional mechanisms are in place to ensure the quality of data.

1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics

                   Comptroller and Auditor General of India audit the budgetary data.

1.1.2 Selection of sources, methodology, and modes of dissemination

General Government Operations

Source: Budget Documents of the centre and state Governments, Reserve Bank of India records.

Methodology : Broadly in line with IMF Methodology.

Mode of Distribution : Reserve Bank of India website, Reserve Bank of India Bulletin, Reserve Bank of India Annual Report.

1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination

Ministry of Finance

• The Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules are published in Hindi and English and are available, for a fee, from book stores selling government publications or from:
  
  Controller of Publications,
  Civil Lines,
  Delhi - 110006, India.
  Phone: 91 11 23819689, 23813302, 23817823.

General government or public sector operations

• The constitution is available in English and all major languages of India from book stores selling government publications or from:
  
  Controller of Publications,
  Civil Lines, Delhi - 110006.
  Phone: 91 11 396 7640.
  Fax: 91 11 396 7846.
  
  1) A summary of the terms of Article 112 of the constitution is also published in the document Key to the Budget Documents.

              2) Key issues are displayed/ explained adequately in footnotes.

1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release

• There is no internal government access outside the RBI prior to the release of the data.

1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products

• There is no ministerial commentary accompanying the release of the data.

4.3.1 Revision schedule

• The data become final ("actual") about 21 months after the end of the reference fiscal year, once they have been audited.

4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data

• The forecast data for the current fiscal year are identified as "budget estimates" ("BE"). The preliminary actual data for the previous year are identified as "revised estimates" ("RE") and are subject to revision.

1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques.

• There have been no major changes in methodology in recent years.

5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques

• The compilation practices relating to the Budget are available in Budget documents. The methods used to compile the two sets of data are essentially the same, with the exceptions of: (1) the treatment of the combined finance data by the Reserve Bank of India; and (2) the inclusion of the transactions of the commercial departments in the Reserve Bank of India data.

4.2.1 Internal consistency

• The data can be cross-checked against the data provided in the budget documents of the central and state governments, bearing in mind the differences in the coverage of the two sets of data.

5.1.2 Dissemination media and format

           Data on general government operations are disseminated in RBI Bulletin, RBI Annual Report and also on the website.