FM rises to present budget in Parliament

NEW DELHI: India's ruling Congress party-led coalition presented its fourth budget at 11 am on Wednesday.

Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, a member of the left-leaning government elected in May 2004, started his speech saying:

• Average agri growth during 10th plan below expectation

• Sharp ups and downs in agriculture

• Per capita income grew by 7.5%

• Government committed to economic stability

• Focus expected to be on rural economy

• Growth rate has improved to 9.27% in FY07

• Average growth in past 3 years UPA's focus on

• Inflation to be 5.2% to 5.4% in this fiscal