<h1>Audit finds five pre-election guarantee schemes caused 15% revenue spending, 12.54% expenditure rise and bigger fiscal gap</h1> A government audit found five pre-election guarantee schemes accounted for 15% of the state's revenue expenditure in 2023-24, triggering a 12.54% rise in overall expenditure and contributing to a revenue deficit of Rs 9,271 crore. The fiscal deficit widened from Rs 46,623 crore to Rs 65,522 crore, and the state increased net market borrowings to Rs 63,000 crore from Rs 26,000 crore the prior year to finance the schemes and deficits. Implementation of the schemes also reduced capital spending on infrastructure by about Rs 5,229 crore.