Government Accelerates PSU Stake Sales to Meet Fiscal Targets

Government accelerating disinvestment of state-owned firms to meet fiscal targets amid higher subsidies and trade deficit. LIC alone raised $3.3B. Experts see this as tapping 'family silver', raising sustainability concerns for fiscal trajectory and bond markets. Fitch affirmed India's BBB- rating, citing robust growth but flagging youth unemployment as a fiscal risk; expects a 25bps rate hike and forecasts reserves at $733bn.