The government has postponed its weekly borrowing of Rs 15,000 crore from the bond market, thanks to the considerable chunk of money that it received in dividends from state-owned companies.

The finance ministry said in a statement that the bond issue was postponed after reviewing the government's cash position and in consultation with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The P.  Chidambram-led ministry said, "On review of the government's cash position and funding requirement, it has been decided, in consultation with RBI, to defer the auction of dated securities amounting to R15,000 crore scheduled to be held on January 17."

The central bank did not disclose the government's cash balances, but dividend payments from Coal India Ltd (CIL) is said to have bolstered the government's cash position.

On Tuesday this week, CIL announced an interim divided of Rs 29 per share.  The government, which owns nearly 90 per cent stake in the miner will pocket Rs 16,485 crore plus another Rs 3,113 crore towards dividend distribution tax.

Union Finance Minister P.  Chidambaram has several times reiterated that the government's target of keeping the fiscal deficit within 4.8 per cent of the country's GDP in FY2013-14 is a red line that the government would not breach in any situation.