Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said, India has maintained its economic growth rate despite challenging global situation. <br/><br/>Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha yesterday on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the current financial year, Mr Jaitley expressed hope that the country will do better further on economic front monsoon is good this year. <br/><br/>He said, it will generate rural demands and will spur agricultural growth and enhance farmers income. <br/><br/>The Minister said, India needs higher investment for development of infrastructure sector. He also said, there should be a reasonable tax system and tax evaders should be brought within the tax net. <br/><br/>Rejecting allegation by the Congress of allocating less fund for MGNREGA Mr. Jaitley said more fund have been allocated during the NDA government as compared to UPA government. He said, this year 38 thousand 500 crore rupees have been provided for the scheme and additional 5000 crore rupees are being given through supplementary demand. <br/><br/>He also said, during the UPA regime the infrastructure sector had suffered seriously and highways construction was largely affected adding that now highway construction has gone up to 23 kilometer per day as against below ten kilometers in UPA regime. <br/><br/>On banks' non productive assets, the finance Minister said, government is empowering banks with laws to recover their dues and also infusing capital to improve their financial health. Later the house voted to supplementary demand of grants.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said, India has maintained its economic growth rate despite challenging global situation. Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the current financial year, Mr Jaitley expressed hope that the country will do better further on economic front as this year's monsoon is good. <br/><br/>He said, the monsoon will generate rural demands and will spur agricultural growth and enhance farmers income. Mr Jaitley said, India needs higher investment for development of infrastructure sector like construction of more rural roads, highways, ports and rail. <br/><br/>The Finance Minister also said, there should be a reasonable tax system and tax evaders should be brought within the tax net. He also rejected the Congress allegation of allocating less fund for MGNREGA saying that more fund have been allocated during the NDA government as compared to UPA government. <br/><br/>He said, this year 38 thousand 500 crore rupees have been provided for the scheme and additional 5000 crore rupees are being given through supplementary demand. He also said, during the UPA regime the infrastructure sector had suffered seriously and highways construction was largely affected. <br/><br/>He said, the highway construction has gone up to 23 kilometer per day now which was below ten kilometers in UPA regime. On banks' non productive assets, Mr Jaitley said, the government is empowering banks with laws to recover their dues and also infusing capital to improve their financial health. Later the house voted to supplementry demand of grants.