Economic survey 2016 highlights

It Forecast that the Indian economy would grow by between 7.0 per cent and
7.75 per cent in the 2016-17 fiscal year that starts on April 1.2016.

The survey was prepared by the finance ministry's chief economic adviser Arvind
Subramanian.

FISCAL DEFICIT

* 2016-17 expected to be challenging from fiscal point of view; time is right for a
review of medium-term fiscal framework
* 2015-16 FISCAL DEFICIT, seen at 3.9 per cent of GDP, seems achievable

* Credibility and optimality argue for adhering to 3.5 per cent of GDP fiscal deficit
target

INFLATION

* CPI INFLATION seen around 4.5 to 5 per cent in 2016-17

* Low inflation has taken hold, confidence in price stability has improved
* Expect RBI to meet 5 per cent inflation target by March 2017
* Prospect of lower oil prices over medium term likely to dampen inflationary
expectations

CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

* 2016/17 current account deficit seen around 1-1.5 per cent of GDP

CURRENCY

* Rupee's value must be fair, avoid strengthening; fair value can be achieved
through monetary relaxation
* India needs to prepare itself for a major currency readjustment in Asia in wake
of a similar adjustment in China
* Rupee's gradual depreciation can be allowed if capital inflows are weak

BANKING & CORPORATE SECTOR

* Estimated capital requirement for banks around 1.8 trillion rupees by 2018-19
* Proposes to make 700 billion rupees available via budgetary allocations during
current and succeeding years in banks
* Government could sell off certain non-financial companies to infuse capital in
state-run banks
* Corporate, bank balance sheets remain stretched, affecting prospects for
reviving private investments
* Underlying stressed assets in corporate sector must be sold or rehabilitated

TAXES
* Tax revenue expected to be higher than budgeted levels in 2015-16
* Proposes widening tax net from 5.5 per cent of earning individuals to more than
20 per cent
* Favours review and phasing out of tax exemptions; easiest way to widen the
tax base not to raise exemption thresholds

CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER COMMENTS

* Subramanian says there is scope for easing monetary policy
* Says expenditure planning needs to be embedded in medium-term fiscal
framework
* Calls for liquidity to be injected into the financial system

All the best by Ur GK Buddy Suryansh