Not Quite Shining | Economy
There are a number of economic pitches Prime Minister Narendra Modi could have made in his election manifesto as he seeks a second term. In 2014, he positioned himself as the challenger and made the economy a key election issue. The BJP manifesto attacked the UPA government on price rise, jobs, corruption and black money. Modi presented a compelling vision of how he would steer India towards a better future while eschewing fiscal imprudence.
Five years on, the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra 2019' addresses economic issues such as the agrarian distress and jobs. It says new employment opportunities will be created by providing support to 22 major 'champion' sectors. It also talks about creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurship and launching a new scheme to provide collateral-free credit up to Rs 50 lakh for entrepreneurs.
The economy inherited by the Modi government in 2014 had some shaky macro indicators-fiscal deficit, for one, was high, inflation was in near double digits and India's credibility among foreign investors was low. Low global crude prices gave the Modi government a windfall and also helped lower inflation
