Economic Survey Showcased Glimpse of 8.5 % of GDP

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While sharing an overview on the Economic Survey, Mukesh Butani, Chairman, BMR Advisors in his note shared with SMESTreet illustrated some of the key highlights of this important document. While commenting on the macro-economics  of the country, mr Bhutani said, “With the revised base year for computing macro-economic statistics, the Economic Survey pegs the GDP growth target for FY 2015-16 at 8.5 percent, signaling double digit economic growth is possible to achieve in near to medium term. Revised estimate of 7.4 percent for FY 15 is encouraging too, especially considering less than buoyant tax collections through the last fiscal. Softening of retail inflation, largely on account of halving of crude prices and supply side measures, is a major boost for the economy for the Government’s commitment to usher in multiple structural reforms beginning with this year’s union Budget.”

While emphasizing on the impact of economic planning, he said, “There are a few bold statements too – for one, Survey underlines a powerful economic philosophy of eliminating revenue deficit, ie government borrowing should fund capital formation, not revenue expenditure; also, in order to achieve better fiscal discipline, there are signals that the Budget shall focus to improve the quality of public expenditure, both planned and unplanned, by moving from public consumption to public investment principle of budgetary allocation for public expenditure.  Whilst the survey does reiterate medium term target of reducing combined deficit (ie current account and revenue deficits) to 3 percent, I would expect FM to indulge in reform announcements statement that deficit management targets are not worrisome especially considering benign external macro-economic fundamentals and a firm political mandate for NDA government.”

He also pointed out the strong message by Finance Minister Mr Arun Jaitley, by saying, “The message is loud and clear – FM Jaitley is well placed to use this opportunity to herald major policy shifts and reforms; reignite public investments through demonstrating improved fiscal prudence and augmenting revenue collections; and finally, kick-off wider private participation across sectors to re energise stalled projects worth 7 percent of GDP.”

GDP Union Budget 2015 BMR Advisors Economic Survey Finance Ministry Mukesh Butani