It had described the calendar year as more in sync with the rhythms of rural development and infrastructure-related activities in the country. In December, after the committee submitted its report, the ministry denied an imminent change in the FY. It talked of reviewing the Acharya committee report and stated that changing the FY would “require a lot of preparations”. Aligning the FY with the calendar year would require the budget to be presented in October or November, about the time when sowing for rabi crops — most importantly, wheat and mustard — begins. The MP government’s move is ill-thought out, and other states would be well-advised not to follow suit without a thorough debate.

Source: Indian Express May 03, 2017 18:56 UTC