Year: 2015

In June with announcements made in budget 205-16, Govt. is making necessary planning to fund and amount of Rs. 20, 0000 crores in National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). Govt. is planning to invest some of the dividend income from Public Sector Undertakings in this fund. The estimated income from dividends during the year 2015-16 is budgeted to Rs. 36174 crores. For the time being, it is planned to invest Rs.15000 crores out dividends likely to be received from two rich companies like ONGC & Coal India Ltd. Remaining Rs.5000 crores is likely to be given by central government in the NIIF.
NIIF funds will be used to raise debts and inturn to be invested as equity in infrastructure finance companies such as Indian Railways Finance Corporation and National Housing Bank.
Government has recently announced investment in 100 planned smart cities and new urban renewal scheme for which funds would come from centre, states and public sector undertakings. Few days back, cabinet has approved a sum of Rs. 1 Lakh crore in next five years for 100 smart cities.
If funds available at NIIF are properly used/invested and amount allocated for 100 smart cities is properly utilized in a planned manner, face of our country in the world could be changed to a great extent.

According to the World Bank’s projections, India would be the fastest growing major economies of the world in the year 2015. It was revealed in Global Economic Prospect report on 11.06.2014 by Chief Economist and senior vice President World Bank. During the quarter January-March 2015, Indian economy could grow at 7.5% against China’s 7%. The World Bank has estimated that India’s growth rate in calendar year 2015 would grow at 7.4% against China’s 7.1%. The Govt’s economic survey had projected India’s growth rate between 8.1% to 8.5% in 2015-16. However, World Bank has projected India’s growth rate at 7.9% in 2016-17 against China’s 7.4%. However in 2015 and in subsequent years, India’s growth rate would be overtaking that of China.

According to Global Financial Services Major i.e. city group has estimated still a higher growth of India in 2015-16. As per its estimates, India GDP growth rate is likely to revived to 7.9% in 2015-16 and 8.1% for 2016-17. This is possible due to structural reforms and higher investments in Indian economy.

On the whole, World Bank expects developing economics to grow 4.4% in the current year and likely to grow at 5.2% in 2016 and 5.4% in 207. Though World Bank’s estimates are slightly low than govt., it is a matter of great satisfaction for India that our growth rate would soon overtake China.

According to the United Nations annual hunger report, India is having highest number of hungary people in the world. During the year 2014-15, their number was 194 million in India this fact has been revealed in the UN body Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its report titled “State of Food Insecurity in the world 2015”. At global level, number of hungary people in the year 1990-92 was one billion which came down to 795 million in 2015.

In India number of such people in the year 1990-92 was 210.1 million which came down to 194 million in 2015 and thus rate of reduction remained very slow. Though the number has come down, but 194 million is quite alarming inspite of many social programmes to fight hunger and poverty.

As compared to India, the reduction in hungary people in china was much better. During the year 1990-92, number of such people in China was 289 million which came down to 133.8 million in 2014-15 and hence number reduced to more than 50% as against India’s reduction rate of around less than 10%.

Even after 68 years of independence, the number of hungary people in India is so high which is matter of great concern. These figures are eye openers for govt. and calls for suitable policy initiative to curve this social problem.