*Growth*

* 2017/18 GDP growth seen between 6.75 and 7.5 per cent year on year
* GDP growth rate at constant market prices for the current year 2016/17 is placed at 7.1 per cent
* The federal statistics office’s estimate of 7.1 per cent growth for 2016/17 likely to be revised downwards
* Service sector is estimated to grow at 8.9 per cent in 2016/17
* Industrial growth rate expected to moderate to 5.2 per cent in 2016/17 from 7.4 per cent in 2015/16

*Fiscal Deficit*

* Implementation of wage hike, muted tax receipts to put pressure on fiscal deficit in 2017/18
* Need for fiscal prudence for both centre and states for fiscal health of the economy
* Fiscal windfall from low oil prices to disappear in2017/18 – TV channels

*Monetary Policy*

* Sharp rise in prices in 2017/18 may cap monetary easing headroom
* Market interest rates seen lower in 2017/18 due to demonetization

*Government debt*

* Government debt to GDP ratio in 2016 seen at 68.5 per cent down from 69.1 per cent in 2015

*Demonetisation*

* Remonetisation will ensure that the cash squeeze is eliminated by April 2017
* Supply of currency should follow actual demand and not be dictated by official estimate of desirable demand
* Government windfall arising from unreturned notes should be deployed towards capital spending

*Banks*

* Suggests setting up public sector asset rehabilitation agency to take charge of large bad loans in banks
* Central agency with government backing could overcome coordination and political issues on bad loans

*Taxation*

* Income tax rates and real estate stamp duties could be reduced
* Timetable for reducing corporate tax rate could be accelerated

*Universal basic income*

* Universal Basic Income (UBI) proposal a powerful idea, but not ready for implementation
* UBI an alternative to plethora of state subsidies for poverty alleviation
* UBI would cost between 4 and 5 per cent of GDP

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