Recovery claims not backed by empirical data: House Panel

The government’s assertion of a V-shaped economic recovery in the country post-Covid-19 is not supported by empirical data, a parliamentary panel said in a report tabled on Monday. The parliamentary standing committee on commerce, however, lauded the setting up of an Investment Clearance Cell (ICC), saying that it would hopefully reduce the time taken to start a business.

The Department of Commerce had submitted that a V-shaped recovery had been demonstrated by several high frequency indicators like E-way bills, rail freight, port traffic, Goods and Services Tax collections and power consumption, the panel said. “The committee, however, observes that the department has not provided empirical data on these indicators to support the V-shaped recovery of the economy,” it said. “The committee, therefore, recommends the department to furnish detailed data on the above-mentioned indicators,” it added.

The committee has recommended that the department provide easy access to data and information regarding the implementation of the Production-linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, information about the quantum of incentives disbursed as well as delays in providing these by the various ministries.


“The department, however, has furnished replies about setting up an Empowered Group of Secretaries (EGoS) chaired by the Cabinet Secretary to monitor the scheme,” it said.

The latest report by the V Vijayasai Reddy-led committee was on the action taken by the government on its recommendations in an earlier report — Attracting Investment in Post-Covid Economy: Challenges and Opportunities for India. It appreciated the government’s effort in setting up the ICC and the central single window system to integrate the existing clearance systems of various ministries and the states.