New Delhi, Feb 25 (Inditop.com) Following are the highlights of the annual Economic Survey for the current fiscal tabled by the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Lok Sabha Thursday:
– Gross domestic product expected to grow 8.25 percent – 8.75 percent in 2009-10
– Economic growth during next fiscal may breach 9 percent
– Government should free grain stocks if food prices rise
– Delay in market release of imported sugar led to high prices
– Calibrate exit strategy from fiscal stimulus
– Centre, States need to begin fiscal consolidation, cap debt levels
– Poverty levels too high for growing nation like India
– Food subsidy should be given to households, instead of routing through public distribution system
– Poor families should be given food coupons to buy food at discount from any shop
– Reduce excise duty to boost exports
– Liberalise foreign investment norms in education, healthcare sectors
– Sustaining current levels of domestic petroleum prices not viable
– Expenditure restraint can help contain deficit at budgeted levels
– High inflation due to supply-side bottlenecks
– Growth in telecom to continue with monthly additions exceeding 17.6 million connections
– Share of central government expenditure on social services up by 19.46 per cent in current fiscal
– Foreign exchange reserves rises to $31.5 billion in current fiscal to $ 283.5 billion till end December 2009
– Balance of Payment situation improves due to surge in capital flows and rise in foreign exchange reserves, accompanied by rupee appreciation
