Comparative Study of Public Debt of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Punjab

Bio: Pinaki holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Kautilya School of Public Policy (Class of 2025) whose areas of interest include business, governance and technology. In her time at Kautilya, she has interned with Indian School of Business, Bharti Institute of Public Policy. She has presented five research papers, published a blog and a journal article. 

Capstone brief: This comparative research examines public debt patterns across Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Karnataka from 2013 until 2023. The three states provide distinct environments which help understand both debt accumulation patterns and fiscal management practices. This research combines both quantitative as well as qualitative data collection tools throughout its methodology. Over ten years of data analysis about revenue collection and public expenditure and debt levels draws from state budgets together with CAG reports and Finance Commission documents. The state budget data is positioned within statewide policies and leadership changes to reveal governmental decisions that steered fiscal results. Each state implements the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act as the framework to evaluate compliance together with budget discipline requirements