India can soon be fifth largest global economy: Jaitley
Mumbai, July 12 : India can become the worlds fifth largest economy soon if firm growth continues, Union Minister Arun Jaitley said on Thursday.
His comments came a day after the World Bank's latest rankings placed India as the world's sixth-largest financial system, ahead of France in seventh place. As per the World Financial Institution data for 2017, India's GDP amounted to $2.597 trillion as compared to $2.582 trillion for France.
"India can become world's fifth largest economy if firm growth continues," Jaitley said in a video address at a National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) event here.
Noting that the economy is in a stable condition, he said there should be added focus on eliminating agrarian distress.
In this connection, the recent move to hike the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers will help eradicate farmer distress that was rampant last year, he said.
The decision to extend the MSP is an enormous step to scale back the plight of farmers within the nation, he said.
"NABARD has played a crucial role in shaping the agrarian sector."
The NDA government is paying particular attention in improving the country's rural infrastructure, he added.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
