MINING LOCAL DEMAND

AS PENT-UP DEMAND KEEPS THE ECONOMY POISED FOR A BOUNCE-BACK, PRAGMATIC POLICY REFORMS AND A VIBRANT DISINVESTMENT PROCESS CAN ENSURE THAT THE METALS AND MINING INDUSTRY HELPS INDIA AND ITS CITIZENS PROSPERa

- ANIL AGARWAL

The performance of India’s economy during the past few quarters has been good, despite the considerable uncertainty created by the second wave of Covid-19. Notwithstanding these continuing challenges, the country looks set to register impressive growth this year. As the second wave wanes, vaccination drives accelerate and states gradually unlock, an all-round optimism is reemerging.

POLICIES AND REFORMS

India will keep attracting investments and advancing steadily to become the manufacturing hub of the world as it continues with broad structural reforms to ease policy and infrastructure bottlenecks. The Centre’s emphasis on rural development and employment generation are well supported by programmes such as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-sufficient India), ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’. It is no surprise that the latest Union Budget has included measures to support micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are indispensable to generating jobs, manufacturing and growth in non-metros.