Shimla, Jan. 16 -- Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu called on Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Thursday to seek financial support for the state. During the meeting, he requested the Union government to allow additional borrowing of two percent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP), noting that a steep reduction in the revenue deficit grant (RDG) over recent years has severely constrained Himachal Pradesh's fiscal space.

Discussing the state's financial health, Sukhu apprised the Union minister of the memorandum submitted to the 16th finance commission. He urged the Centre to set the annual RDG at a minimum of Rs.10,000 crore and stressed the need for a realistic assessment of state revenue and expenditu...