Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the Government is committed to go ahead with reforms measures to take India back to original potential of 8 percent economic growth.

Outlining the government's priorities like introduction of Goods and Services Tax in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, changes in the land acquisition law, auction of non-coal minerals and elimination of non-deserving sections from subsidy net, the Finance Minister said the key economic portfolios were being handled by people who have no baggage of the past.

He was addressing a newspaper event in Mumbai on Saturday. Mr Jaitley said that all these changes have certainly changed the environment and changed the mood in the country.

He said the government is working on the e-auction route for allocation of non-coal minerals like iron ore to remove discretionary allotments.

The Finance Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put young people in charge of key economic ministries because they do not carry the baggage of the past and will have a fresh thinking and the ability to learn fast.

Reiterating his opposition to subsidising affluent classes, he said people pay taxes not for subsidising the rich.

Referring to the government's decision not to levy taxes retrospectively, Mr. Jaitley said, taxes which must be paid must be realised but what cannot be realised cannot be taken forcefully.

Such an approach, he said, did not bring even one rupee more to the kitty but got a bad name for the country.