Economic Survey skipped; FM & PM discuss Interim Budget

New Delhi, Feb 15 (UNI) This year's budget routine exercise will miss the customary Economic Survey, though acting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will make a statement on the 'outlook of the economy' as part of the Interim Budget speech tomorrow.
The Budget, being of an Interim nature, will skip the Economic Survey, as has normally been the case with Vote-on-Account or Interim Budgets historically.

The Economic Survey, apart from making a statement on the state of the economy also hints at policy initiatives in the offing. An Interim Budget, because of its very character, does not do so.

However, Mr Mukherjee will make a statement on the state of the economy as well as the outlook of the economy, highly placed sources in the government told UNI.

The sources said the Minister's address will last for about 50 minutes.

While the Railway Budget was presented by the charismatic Railway Minister Lalu Prasad at 1200 hrs, the General Interim Budget will be taken up in the Lok Sabha at 1100 hrs.

The press conference with Finance Ministry officials is slated for 1330 hrs.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved the Interim Budget.
Dr Singh went through the Interim Budget related papers and after formally signing them, forwarded them to President Pratibha Devisisngh Patil.

The Prime Minister also approved Mr Mukherjee's speech relating to the Budget.
Mr Mukherjee, who holds the charge of External Affairs, apart from being the acting Finance Minister, met the Prime Minister and discussed budget-related issues with him.

By:
Gurdeep Singh
Head of Business & Economy and Vice-President FFW
Gursingh111@rediffmail.com