Washington, Apr 11 (KNN) There is a lot of scope in India for reducing untargeted food and fertilizer subsidies and enhancing revenue administration, said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director.

At a news conference, Deputy Director of IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department, Paul Mauro, said “There is a lot of scope for reducing untargeted food and fertilizer subsidies and for enhancing revenue administration, including for the GST.”

The latest edition of fiscal monitor report that was released at the news conference, said “Some reforms in India show the benefits of digitalization and reducing opportunities for discretion and fraud.”

The introduction of e-procurement in India and Indonesia has also increased competition and led to better quality of construction, it added.

"For example, the adoption of an electronic platform for managing a social assistance program in India resulted in a 17 per cent decline in spending with no corresponding decline in benefits," the report said.

Similarly in Andhra Pradesh, the use of smart ID cards that are used to identify beneficiaries of specific programs and improve beneficiaries' access to information helped reduce leakage by 41 per cent relative to the control group, it further highlighted.

According to the Fiscal Monitor report, studies on public procurement show that the design of procedures can have a significant impact on the prices and quality of products.

The report noted that the "recently announced farm-income-support program alongside weaker-than-expected goods and services tax revenues led to a deterioration (of the deficit situation) relative to the previous central government budget outturn".