June 12 (Reuters) – India is preparing for a wider-than-expected budget deficit this year, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing an official familiar with the matter, as the war in Iran drives up energy subsidy costs and adds pressure on government finances.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report and has sought comment from India’s finance ministry.
Authorities are willing to let the deficit widen by as much as half a percentage point to 4.8% of gross domestic product compared with the 4.3% goal set in February, the report said.
(Reporting by Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Editing by Harikrishnan Nair)