October 24, 2017
NEW DELHI: Macro-economic fundamentals are strong and GDP growth is poised for a take-off with the economy turning around, the government said today as Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and top officials presented a detailed economic roadmap.
October 24, 2017
NEW DELHI: Macro-economic fundamentals are strong and GDP growth is poised for a take-off with the economy turning around, the government said today as Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and top officials presented a detailed economic roadmap.
Mr. Jaitley said after growth slumped to a three-year low of 5.7 per cent in the first quarter, his ministry has held detailed discussions, including with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Indian government is trying to ensure that India remains the world's fastest growing major economy like it has been in the last three years.
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"When structural reforms happen, there can be some temporary hiccups, but there are a lot more benefits in the medium and long term," said Mr Jaitley.
Top officials of the finance ministry made detailed presentations. "The real GDP growth average is 7.5% in the last three years," said Subhash C Garg, secretary in the department of economic affairs, also stating that a number of indicators show "the worst is over and we are now back on the path to a high rate of growth in the next many quarters to come."
Mr. Garg said inflation is low, forex reserves are over $ 400 billion, Foreign Direct Investment is up and the government is on track on fiscal deficit.
Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa made a presentation on the government's spending on infrastructure to "create more jobs, more growth," detailing that 83,677 km of highways will be built in the next five years at a cost of nearly 7 lakh crore. "It will create 14 crore man days of jobs," he said.
Today's presentation of an economic plan comes as critics and political rivals have attacked the BJP-led government, attributing the economic slowdown to what they call poor handling of key reforms like last year's demonetization and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), implemented in July this year.
The Congress has attempted to turn the slowdown into an election plank ahead of key assembly polls in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, with its vice-president Rahul Gandhi building his campaign around attacks on the government over the economy.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has defended his government's economic policies, calling out critics for "spreading pessimism" over "one quarter of slow growth."
Indian PM Modi also said at a rally in Gujarat last week that "the decision to implement the reform was not of Indian Prime Minister Modi alone." He said there were nearly 30 parties that were consulted and involved with the new tax, of whom he singled out one. "The Congress is an equal partner in GST decisions. They should not spread lies on GST," he said.
Earlier this month, Arun Jaitley met with his counterparts from states on the GST Council and revised rates on a range of items, among them those crucial to traders in Gujarat like the khakra snack and man-made textile yarn. Critics pointed out these concessions were intended to ensure the BJP was not penalized by small and medium sized businesses in Gujarat, which will vote before December 18.
The World Bank has called the slowdown an "aberration" mainly due to a temporary disruption caused by preparations for GST and said this will get corrected in coming months. It said the new tax regime would have "a hugely positive impact on the economy." The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its growth forecast for the current and next year, but days later its chief Christine Lagarde said the Indian economy is on a "very solid track" in the mid-term.
LIVE: Shortest route identified, 20% of them different from fastest route: @FinMinIndia https://t.co/5qKs8ieG3V pic.twitter.com/EbSJStcXbl
— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 24, 2017
A look at the lending by Public Sector Banks, from the presentation by @FinMinIndia
LIVE: https://t.co/5qKs8ieG3V pic.twitter.com/Jh1JmtmdUw
— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 24, 2017
LIVE: Various capital infusion measures taken by Govt. to ensure health of Public Sector Banks: @FinMinIndia https://t.co/5qKs8ieG3V pic.twitter.com/vHyov5Lwaa
— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 24, 2017
Courtesy/Source: NDTV
