With only three days to go before Finance Minister P Chidambaram delivers the Budget in Parliament, market expectations with respect to reforms are running high.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia today said the fiscal stimulus package unveiled by the government was "adequate" and the next package should aim at creating productive investments in infrastructure.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Thursday said that he favoured a hike in the fuel prices to offset the increase in international crude prices. "The only viable strategy is to pass on the subsidy (oil) burden to the consumers, while providing targeted subsidy to the needy. And if we do not do it, investments in social sectors will be affected," he said.
Favouring independent regulators for railways and road sector, Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Friday stressed on the need for proper policy framework defining the role of these monitors.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia during his visit.
The Planning Commission on Thursday said the surge in global oil prices should be passed on to customers, but favoured having some provisions to safeguard the interests of vulnerable sections of the society.
The government is planning to utilize $5 billion worth of foreign exchange reserves for infrastructure development this fiscal.
With a view to find a long term alternative to scarce petroleum products, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Amid criticism over engaging experts from multilateral agencies like World Bank, Planning Commission on Wednesday asserted that none of the "outside bodies"
Inclusiveness is not just about poverty reduction, it is much more than that
Social sectors like health and education will get a leg up in the Eleventh Plan (2007-12), even as some other sectors may see a reduction in fund allocation.
"I am in favour of generally multilaterally liberalising trade and I think the rest of the world is moving towards doing that in a parallel track," says Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
The Planning Commission on Tuesday said investment in infrastructure will have to be about $350 billion in the next five years to propel overall growth of economy to over 8 per cent.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said the government can consider some more measures to contain inflation if prices do not soften going ahead. Inflation touched a 42-month high of 7.57 per cent for the week ended April 19 as compared to 7.33 per cent in the previous week. When asked whether futures trading of food grains be banned to bring down prices, he replied that the expert committee has said that futures trading does not increase inflation.
Bankers see stable interest rates in near future but are worried about the spiralling global oil prices that is exerting pressure on domestic prices and exchange rate.
State-run Power Finance Corporation on Thursday awarded the 4,000 MW Sasan and Mundra ultra mega power projects to the two successful bidders Lanco Infratech and Tata Power respectively.
This rampant form of piracy has caused huge losses to both American and Indian entertainment companies.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who left for Washington on Saturday, is likely to take up with the US authorities the issue of video and cable piracy that has been causing huge losses to both American and Indian entertainment companies.
The growth in the economy since the 1990s notwithstanding, there has not been much reduction in poverty levels, for measuring which multi-dimensional efforts are needed, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman, Planning Commission said on Tuesday.
India, which aspires to grow like China in various spheres, is interestingly against replicating the Beijing model of population control as it feels that a sudden reduction could impact supply of labour.
The Planning Commission on Tuesday made a case for increasing prices of petrol and diesel arguing that it was not a good idea to check inflation by keeping prices of petroleum products low.
The term of the Deputy Chairman and Members of the Commission is coterminous with that of the Prime Minister and all of them have resigned following the change of government last month after the general elections.
Stock markets might be tumbling like ninepins but India's policy planners feel the crash on the bourses is just in line with global trends and the economy is not overheated, as all macro indicators remain strong.
The government on Friday announced putting in place a regulator for the civil aviation sector.
Planning Commission has submitted a proposal to the finance ministry for raising Rs 70,000 crore
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