The International Monetary Fund has suggested that India should begin fiscal consolidation as deficit has entered double digits due to stimulus measures taken to revive the economy. The IMF Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, Kalpana Kochhar said in a conference in Washington yesterday that although the stimulus measures were instrumental in supporting activity during the crisis, it has pushed the deficit into double digits again, and the debt back to nearly 80 per cent. He said, that the IMF therefore, recommends fiscal adjustment strategy begining with this next budget. India last year announced tax cuts and increased expenditure to prop up the economy hit by the global economic slowdown. The Reserve Bank had also cut its key policy rates to pump more money into the system.