'Higher Growth Leading to inclusive and Sustainable Development is the Mool Mantra' says the Finance Minister

In the current year, the CSO has estimated growth at 5% while the RBI has estimated growth at 5.5%. It will be below India's potential growth rate of 8%. Getting back to that growth rate is the challenge that faces the country. This was stated by the Union Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram while presenting the General Budget 2013-14 in Lok Sabha today. By setting the context at the very outset of his Budget speech, Shri Chidambaram said that global economic growth slowed from 3.9% in 2011 to 3.2% in 2012. India is part of the global economy and country's exports and imports amount to 43% of GDP and two way external sector transactions have risen to 108% of GDP. Stating that India cannot remain unaffected by what happens in the rest of the world, he said India's economy too has slowed after 2010-11.

He, however, pointed out that 'even now, of the large countries of the world, only China and Indonesia are growing faster than India in 2012-13'. The Finance Minister said the average growth rate for the 11th Plan period was 8%, the highest ever in any Plan period.

Shri Chidambaram said although there are examples of States growing at a fast rate, but leaving behind women, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the Minorities and some Backward Classes. The UPA does not accept that model. The Government believes in inclusive development, with emphasis on improving human development indicators, he added.

Source : Equity Bulls

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