GDP to grow at 6-6.5%: Montek

The Planning Commission on Friday said the economy is expected to grow between 6-6.5% in the current fiscal, but the growth will pick up in the last two years of the 10th Plan to 7-8%.

"The economy is expected to grow between 6-6.5% in 2004-05. It will take the growth in the first three years of the 10th Plan to a little over 6%. For the next two years, we are aiming at 7-8% growth, which is achieveable," Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said at the

Confederation of Indian Industry annual session.

Ahluwalia said the annual growth targeted in the 10th Plan would not be achieved because rapid acceleration of growth did not take place.

He added that the economy would be well positioned for higher growth trajectory in the 11th Plan.

Ahluwalia said the mid-term appraisal of the 10th Plan would be over by December, and the Commission was looking at three broad areas - social sector, agriculture and infrastructure - during the exercise.