Purpose of the study: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 comprising a universally acceptable worldwide development agenda which each country of the world has to achieve till 2030. The purpose of this study is to examine the socio-economic and political transformational challenges confronted to South Asian Countries (SA) i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, in achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methodology: The study uses different statistics of World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Health Organizations (WHO), and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to give a comprehensive picture of South Asian economies and the challenges which they are currently facing for achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In our preliminary analysis, the methodology highlighted the issues of South Asian Countries such as poverty (SDG 1), healthy lives and well-being (SDG 3), inclusive and equitable quality education (SDG 4), sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (SDG 8)". Principal Findings: The statistics presented regarding South Asian economies exhibit a dismal picture. At present, the attainment of these stipulated goals seems impossible and remains elusive if some serious measures have not been taken. The role of DCs and the world community as a whole is significant in this regard. To save the planet from extreme poverty, hunger, malnutrition, equitable access to modern technology, improved education and health for all human beings, the developed countries should give at least one percent of their GNP in the form of development assistance to poor countries. The study suggests that good governance that could undertake and implement structural reforms is necessary to deal with the challenges confronting to South Asian countries in achieving the targets of these stipulated goals. More importantly, the Developed Countries (DCs) started to implement their strategies to view SDGs' targets. Now it is a dire need that DCs should assist the Under Developed Countries (UDCs) and help them from their experience in identifying the transformational challenges which they possibly have to face in achieving SDGs' targets. Otherwise, it looks impossible for the UDCs to come up with these targets till 2030. Applications of this study: The study highlighted some key challenges that South Asian countries face to achieve the targets of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study outcomes can prove very much helpful for South Asian countries for achieving these targets and devising thriving economic policies generous to attaining their targets till 2030.  Novelty/Originality of this study: This study gives a brief picture of the current position of the South Asian countries where they stand regard to Sustainable Development Goals' targets. Moreover, the results and policy recommendations presented at the end of the study provides help to deal with the challenges that are big hindrances in achieving the targets of these SDGs.

Purpose of the study: This study aims to analyze the short-run and as well as long-run effects of public debt on the economy of South Asian countries. And to resolve problems in managing and servicing their massive public debt obligations. Methodology: For econometrically investigation, panel data has been used for the era of 1990-2019. For obtaining econometric outcomes, we applied the Fixed Effect Model and PMG/ Panel ARDL. Main Findings: The results revealed that public debt negatively affected the economic performance of these countries. This effect is adverse both in short as well as in long period. Applications of this study: The study can be effective for simultaneous achievement of the desirable level of economic growth and public debt stock seems to be difficult and could remain elusive if some serious measures have not been taken. Novelty/Originality of this study: The study recommends the efficient and productive utilization of borrowed funds to avoid their negative repercussions.

Due to the fragile tax base and mounting budget deficits South Asian countries are persistently relying on both domestic and external debt which severely affects the growth performance of these countries. The external resources are not easy to get and subject to many constraints while domestic resources are easily accessible. Therefore, the budget deficit is normally financed with domestic debt. This paper examines the short-run and long-run impact of domestic debt on the economic growth of SAARC countries i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. For the sake of analysis panel data of SAARC countries from 1990 to 2020 has been used. Fixed effect model and panel ARDL econometric techniques have been applied to examine the short-run and long-run association among the variables. The natural log of GDP per capita is used as a proxy for economic growth. The other variables are domestic debt, initial GDP, foreign direct investment, trade openness, investment, and secondary school investment rate. The results of the study indicate that domestic debt has a negative impact on economic growth both in the short-run and long-run. This shows that the domestic borrowed resources have not been utilized effectively and productively. The study suggests that efforts will be made to reduce the budget deficits to minimize the reliance on domestic debt.

The public debt of South Asian countries has witnessed a continuous increase from the last three decades which has badly affected the household private consumption expenditures. High public debt can lead to steep losses for banks, both domestic and international, undermines the stability of financial systems in both the crisis-hit country and others. This can hit economic growth as well as private consumption. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of public debt on private consumption in South Asian countries i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Besides public debt, the impact of some other important macroeconomic, fiscal, and monetary variables like lending interest rate, public spending and money supply have also been examined. For this purpose, 31 years of panel data from 1990 to 2020 of South Asian countries have been taken. The study has used a variety of econometric techniques like Robust Least Square Regression, Panel Cointegration, Error Correction Model (ECM), Wald test, and Panel Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) approach to examine the short-run and long-run relationship among the variables. The results of Robust Least Square Regression indicate that public debt discourages private consumption. The lending interest rate also badly affected private consumption. The other variables like public spending and money supply have a favorable impact on private consumption. The results of the Kao Residual Panel Cointegration Test and the Johansen Fisher Panel Cointegration Test indicate that there exists a long run relationship among the variables. The results of the ECM and Wald Test reveal that a long run and short-run causality is running from independent variables to the dependent variable respectively. The study recommends that by using monetary and fiscal policies effectively the private consumption and economic growth can be stimulated in the economy. Keywords: South Asia, Public Debt, Private Consumption, Lending Interest Rate Public Spending, Money Supply, Robust Least Square Regression, ECM, FMOLS, Wald Test.

Over the years, the South Asian countries were facing the dilemma of twin’s deficits because they had failed to generate sufficient revenues to finance their budget. Consequently, they were continuously relying on both domestic and external debt to bridge these deficits which had put a severe implication on their economic growth. Their financial position continued to deteriorate and undermined all the efforts of the governments made to stimulate economic growth. The governments in these countries failed to generate enough revenues through internal sources. Therefore, the deficits were normally fiancé through external sources. The paper examined whether the external debt was a blessing or course to the economic growth of South Asian countries i.e. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. For this purpose 30 years of panel data of these countries from 1990 to 2019 had been taken. Fixed effect model and Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) Approach had been applied to examine the short-run and long-run association among the variables. The natural log of GDP per capita was used as a proxy for economic growth. The other variables were external debt, initial GDP, foreign direct investment, trade openness, investment, and secondary school investment rate. The outcomes of the study indicated that that external debt had a negative impact on economic growth both in the short-run and long-run. This revealed that external debt had not been utilized effectively and productively. The study suggested that effort would be made to manage the external debt and reduced the twin's deficits to minimize the harmful impact of external debt on the economy. Keywords: South Asian, External Debt, ARDL, Fixed Effect Model, Economic Growth.