GST Bill, Banking Reforms on Govt’s Unfinished Agenda: Jaitley

Jaitley said infra spending, rural spending, and strengthening social security among govt’s three big priorities.

The GST Bill is currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. (Photo: The Quint)

As he completes two years in office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is boosting efforts to reverse a rural slowdown that threatens to cost him state elections. While India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy, investors have been frustrated by Modi’s inability to push through a national sales tax and the uncertainty surrounding the future of central bank Governor Raghuram Rajan.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Jaitley said that the Goods and Services Tax and a reduction of the corporate tax rate remain an “unfinished agenda” and should come soon. The next major priorities he identified include modernising the nation’s infrastructure, spending more on rural areas and strengthening the social security framework.

Video Editor: Mohd Irshad

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