Finance Minister P. Chidambaram says, the government plans more changes in capital markets, insurance, banking and infrastructure in the next few weeks. In an interview to a TV channel in Tokyo, he indicated that the Budget for next year will focus on cutting wasteful expenses and promoting investments. He said, the government's key social welfare programmes will however be fully protected. On the warnings by global agencies about the possibility of the country's rating being downgraded, Chidambaram said, he was absolutely certain that India's credit rating would not be downgraded. He said, the rupee has appreciated about 5 or 6 percent in the last few weeks and it must appreciate a little more to find its reasonable level. He said a further rise in the rupee will help curb increase in costs.Addressing the Development Committee meeting of the World Bank in Tokyo later, Chidambaram said, high global commodity prices, particularly of energy pose a major risk to India's growth and inflation. He said, it would be a tragedy if the World Bank fails to meet capital needs of the member countries.AIR correspondent reports that in the face of rising food, fertiliser and fuel subsidies, containing high fiscal deficit is a key challenge for the government. Though the fiscal deficit target for 2012-13 has been pegged at 5.1 per cent of the GDP economists feel that it may be difficult for the government to stick to the Budget estimates.
News On AIR | October 14, 2012 7:10 PM
FM hints at more reforms in capital market, insurance, banking and infrastructure