Budget 2018: FinMin could raise disinvestment target to Rs 1 trn

BUDGET 2018 - Buoyed by the success of this year’s disinvestment programme, the Finance Ministry could set an even higher target of Rs 900 billion-1 trillion (Rs 90,000-1,00,000 crore) for 2018-19. This will encompass the sale of Air India, a number of other privatization initiatives, mergers, initial public offerings, the centre’s two exchange-traded funds, buybacks and offers-for-sale, and even monetization of land assets.

The budgeted estimate for 2017-18 is Rs 725 billion (Rs 72,500 crore), the highest ever for a year so far. With the acquisition of Hindustan Petroleum by ONGC expected to be completed soon, that target will be easily outstripped. As of January 22, divestment proceeds stood at Rs 555 billion (Rs 55,500 crore). ONGC’s acquisition of HPCL’s 51 per cent stake is valued at Rs 369 billion (Rs 36,900 crore). That would take divestment proceeds to Rs 925 billion (Rs 92,500 crore) for 2017-18.

The upcoming 2018-19 budget, to be presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, while not expected to be outright populist, will still contain sops and see an increase in allocation across schemes and public expenditure. He will require resources, and disinvestment is expected to be a major one.