Economic Survey paints a cautiously optimistic picture: Analysts

Economic Survey suggests govt will present a prudent Budget,analysts say.

Economic Survey released by the government today paints a 8220;cautiously optimistic8221; economic outlook and suggests the government will present a fiscally prudent Budget tomorrow,analysts say.

The survey,tabled by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Parliament,projected an optimistic growth rate of 6.1-6.7 per cent for the 2013-14 claiming that the downturn is more or less over and economy is looking up.

8220;The survey paints a cautiously optimistic picture of the economy and holds out hope for the future,8221; Nomura Economists Sonal Varma and Aman Mohunta said in a research report.

Echoing similar sentiments Deloitte India Senior Director Anis Chakravarty said 8220;the Economic Survey 2012-13 released today provides a candid view of the economy and clearly recognises the need for reforms.8221;

Though problem areas are recognised,the survey seems to provide a sense of optimism within the current macroeconomic framework,analysts believe.

8220;Though it provides an optimistic target of 6.1 per cent to 6.7 per cent as GDP growth for the next fiscal,one may conclude that this range is quite wide,8221; Chakravarty said adding that 8220;this sends a message that growth will be driven by reforms and global prospects8221;.

The Nomura report further said that 8220;the survey suggests that the government will present a fiscally prudent budget. We expect the government to project a fiscal deficit of 4.6 per cent of GDP in FY14 from 5.3 per cent in FY13.8221;

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According to PwC India Executive Director Ranen Banerjee 8220;the economic survey highlights importance of human capital 8211; that is investment in human capital,innovation and knowledge development being the next key drivers of growth.8221;

Banerjee further said there are poor signals on all fronts of the economy and it will be interesting to see how the Union Budget attempts to improve the situation.

Commenting on the Economic Survey,Standard Chartered bank Senior Economist Anubhuti Sahay said: 8220;The survey has rightly stressed on the urgent need to restore the domestic macro-economic balances in place.8221;

8220;The adverse impact of inflation is well reflected in lower savings rate,wider CAD and still elevated interest rates for investments,8221; Sahay added.