Government to borrow ₹8 lakh crore in first half of FY26

The Government of India, in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India, has finalised its borrowing programme for the first half (H1) of 2025-26. Out of gross market borrowing of ₹14.82 lakh crore budgeted for FY26, ₹8 lakh crore (54%) is planned to be borrowed in H1 through issuance of dated securities, including ₹10,000 crore of Sovereign Green Bonds.

The gross market borrowing of ₹8 lakh crore will be completed through 26 weekly auctions. The market borrowing will be spread over 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, 30, 40 and 50 year securities. The share of borrowing (including Sovereign Green Bonds) under different maturities will be: 3-year (5.3%), 5-year (11.3%), 7-year (8.2%), 10-year (26.2%), 15-year (14.0%), 30-year (10.5%), 40-year (14.0%) and 50-year (10.5%).

The Government will carry out switching or buyback of securities to smoothen the redemption profile. The Centre will continue to reserve the right to exercise greenshoe option to retain an additional subscription of up to ₹2,000 crore against each of the securities indicated in the auction notifications, the ministry of finance said.

Weekly borrowing through issuance of Treasury Bills in the first quarter (Q1) of FY 2025-26 is expected to be ₹19,000 crore for 13 weeks with issuance of ₹9,000 crore under 91 day T-bill, ₹5,000 crore under 182 day T-bill and ₹5,000 crore under 364-day T-bill. To take care of temporary mismatches in Government accounts, the Reserve Bank of India has fixed the Ways and Mean Advances (WMA) limit for H1 of FY 2025-26 at ₹1.50 lakh crore.