Explained: Why the Economic Survey had a sky blue cover

Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) KV Subramanian said that this year’s Economic Survey is about brainstorming with no limits for an appropriate economic model for India. The Economic Survey 2018-19 was tabled in the Parliament on Thursday.

"The theme of EcoSurvey2019 is to enable shifting gears to accelerate and sustain a real GDP growth rate of 8% and thereby achieve the vision of a $5 trillion Indian economy,"he noted.

In a tweet, he said that this Economic Survey is imbued by the spirit “blue sky thinking” in thinking about the appropriate economic model for India. “This is reflected in the sky blue cover of the Survey,” he mentioned in his tweet.


“When was the last time you looked at the blue, unfettered sky and wondered about the power of the unfettered "blue sky" thinking?” he said in his tweet.


Subramanian said that the Survey is also inspired by Gandhiji's Talisman: “…Recall the face of the poorest man [woman], and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her].”

He noted that the cover design of the Survey represents the ‘inter-linked gears’ and captures the idea of investment, savings, exports, growth and jobs being complementary and therefore forming components of a ‘Virtuous Cycle’ with investment as the key driver.

The CEA noted that the survey is a blueprint for the economy to reach $5 trillion. “Looking beyond the economics of equilibrium, Survey makes case for investment-driven “virtuous cycle” to sustain growth at 8%. Investment the "key driver" of simultaneous growth in demand, jobs, exports & productivity,” he observed.

He said that one of the biggest hurdles to $5 trillion economy is poor enforcement of contracts and dispute resolution. “Steps to speed up legal process should be top priority. #EcoSurvey2019 shows that required efficiency gains & appointments are large but achievable,” he said.