Adhering
to the fiscal targets, the fiscal deficit in RE 2015-16 and BE 2016-17 have
been retained at 3.9% and 3.5% of GDP respectively. While presenting the
General Budget 2016-17 in Lok Sabha today, the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun
Jaitley said that he has weighed the policy options of either in favour of
fiscal consolidation and stability or for a less aggressive consolidation and
for boosting growth. He has decided that prudence lies in adhering to the
fiscal targets but while doing so, it has been ensured that the development
agenda has not been compromised.

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DSM/GB/RC/nb/2016-17/