- The nominal effective exchange rate (NEER) is the weighted geometric average of the bilateral nominal exchange rates of the home currency in terms of foreign currencies.
- REER is defined as a weighted geometric average of nominal exchange rates of the home currency in terms of the foreign currencies adjusted for relative price differential. Although the rupee has depreciated against the US dollar, in terms of NEER (36 currencies) it appreciated by 2.8% in December 2014 over March 2014. Similarly, REER also appreciated by 5.8% during the same period.
- India’s total external debt stock at end-March 2014 stood at US$ 442.3 billion, recording an increase of US$ 32.8 billion (8.0%) over the end-March 2013 level. The rise in total external debt during the period was due to long-term debt, particularly NRI deposits. A sharp increase in NRI deposits owed to fresh foreign currency non-resident account (banks) [FCNR(B)] deposits mobilized under the swap scheme during September to November 2013 to tide over the external financing needs.
- The currency composition of India’s total external debt shows that the share of US dollar denominated debt in external debt stock continued to be the highest at 60.1% at end- September 2014, followed by Indian rupee (24.2%), special drawing rights (SDR) (6.5%), Japanese yen (4.5%), and euro (3.0%) denominated.
- At end-September 2014, government (sovereign) external debt was US$ 88.4 billion. It accounted for 19.4% of India’s total external debt. Non-government external debt amounted to US$ 367.5 billion which was 80.6% of total external debt at end-September 2014.
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COMPOSITION OF EXTERNAL DEBT |
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| Sl. No. | Component | 2014 QE |
| 1 | Multilateral | 11.7 |
| 2 | Bilateral | 5.1 |
| 3 | IMF | 1.3 |
| 4 | Export credit | 3.4 |
| 5 | Commercial borrowings | 35.4 |
| 6 | NRI deposits | 23.8 |
| 7 | Rupee debt | 0.3 |
| 8 | Long –term debt | 81.1 |
| 9 | Short- term debt | 18.9 |
| 10 | Total external debt | 100.0 |
- India’s external debt has remained within manageable limits as indicated by the external debt to GDP ratio of 23.5% and debt service ratio of 5.9% in 2013-14.
- The ratio of India’s external debt stock to gross national income at 23.0% was the sixth In terms of the cover provided by foreign exchange reserves to external debt, India’s position was sixth highest at 64.7%.
