CPSE Capital Expenditure Surges
Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) and four government organizations have collectively invested ₹5.77 lakh crore in capital expenditure (capex) by the end of December. This marks 74% of their combined target of ₹7.85 lakh crore for the fiscal year. Officials expressed optimism that the current spending trajectory points towards exceeding the annual goal.
December Sees Highest Monthly Outlay
Spending in December alone surpassed ₹72,000 crore, representing the highest monthly expenditure in the last three months and the second highest in the fiscal year. This robust December performance indicates accelerated project execution by these state-run entities. The growth in capex compared to the corresponding period last fiscal stood at a modest 1.3%, though the previous fiscal saw these entities achieve 102% of their targets.
Top Performers and Sector Contributions
Several entities have already surpassed their annual targets. Dedicated Freight Corridor led the pack, spending over 450% of its allocation. NLC India, NTPC Limited, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited also showed strong performance. Meanwhile, the Railway Board and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) reported spending around 74% and 79% of their respective targets by December.
Economic Implications of State-Led Capex
This increased state-led capex is critical for economic growth, especially as private sector investment intentions show a decline. A forward-looking survey indicated a projected 25% drop in private capex for FY26, potentially falling to ₹4.88 lakh crore from ₹6.56 lakh crore in FY25. The government's own capex surged by over 28% between April and November FY26 compared to the previous year, with significant contributions from railways, roads, and defense. This sustained infrastructure spending by CPSEs and government organizations is expected to create jobs and foster overall economic expansion.