India USD 5 Trillion Economy By FY29 Only, If It Grows At 9% For 5 Years: Subbarao

India may become a USD five trillion economy by 2028-29 only if the GDP grows at nine per cent per annum consistently for the next five years, former RBI Governor D Subbarao said on Monday. Speaking at Federation of Telangana Chamber of Commerce and Industry on India @75- Marching Towards USD 5 Trillion Economy on the occasion of 75 years of Indian Independence, he said there are eight key challenges for India to overcome to achieve the dream of 5 trillion economy.

"India can become a 5 trillion economy as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi not before 2028-29. Also for this we need to clock an annual GDP growth of 9 per cent consistently for the next 5 years... I see eight key challenges for India to overcome to achieve the dream of USD five trillion economy," a press release from FTCCI quoted Subbarao as saying.

According to him, the challenges are increasing investment, improving productivity and education and health outcomes, creating jobs, raising agriculture productivity, maintaining macroeconomic stability, managing global mega trends and improving governance, it said. Subba Rao further said Modi triggered a debate on State subsidies and all political parties are at fault for the situation.

He cautioned that the States and union government must realise that, the country does not have surplus budgets and while some safety net is surely needed. They must be cautious and selective on what freebies to be given from borrowed money and the future generations should not be burdened with unnecessary debt burden, the release added.

(PTI)