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Economic Survey shows India's energy needs to grow 2.5x, healthy growth in formal employment

Economic Survey shows India's energy needs to grow 2.5x, healthy growth in formal employment

  • 34.7 crore Ayushmann Bharat cards generated
  • Avg growth of the manufacturing sector at 5% over last decade
  • Reduction in dependence on non-institutional credit

The Economic Survey 2023-24 noted that the country's energy requirements are set to burgeon by 2-2.5x by 2027, underlining the need for energy efficiency and seamlessly transitioning to clean energy solutions.

By means of sovereign green bonds, the government managed to raise Rs 16,000 crore between January-February 2023, alongside an additional Rs 20,000 crore between October and December 2023.

As for social security, Ayushmann Bharat, of which over 34.7 crore cards have been generated, has saved over Rs 1.25 lakh crore of OPD expenses of the poor and under-privileged families.

The country's labor market has also seen solid improvement, with unemployment rates declining to 3.2% in 2022-23. The net payroll additions under Employee Provident Fund Organization has also doubled over the past 5 years, signaling a healthy growth in formal employment. As per the survey, care economy and agro-processing are the two key areas where there is untapped potential for boosting quality employment, and increasing women participation in the labor force.

The agriculture sector has registered an average annual growth of 4.18% over the last 5 years, with the sector growing about 1.4% during 2023-24, as per provisional estimates. To provide further fillip to the sector, the government has been focused on reducing the sector's dependence on non-institutional, informal credit. As a result, its share has come down from 90% in 1950, to just 23.4% in 2021-22. However, as the survey observed, the country's agricultural growth policies should be consistent with climate change and water security practises.

Thrust on MSMEs, manufacturing and clean energy

Over the last decade, the manufacturing sector managed to mark an average annual growth rate of 5.2%, majorly driven by chemicals, wood products and furniture, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and equipment. India also emerged as a net exporter of finished steel over the last 10 years, and was a significant producer and consumer of the same during FY24.

India's indigenous coal production also jumped up, with India actively working to reduce its import dependence. In FY 24, India producued 997.2 million tonnes of coal, imported 261 million tonnes, and consumed 1233.86 million tonnes.

India's pharma market, valued at $50 billion, is the 3rd largest in the world, and India ranks prominently amongst clothing manufacturing nations as well. As of FY24, it is the second largest manufacturer, and one of the top 5 exporting nations of clothing, with the export of textiles and apparel, including handicrafts increasing by 1% to reach Rs 2.97 lakh crore.

A similar growth was witnessed in India's electronics manufacturing segment, making up for 3.7% of global market share, with exports rising to Rs 1.9 lakh Crore in FY23. Per the survey, "the PLI schemes for key sectors have attracted significant investments, boosted production, sales and exports and generated jobs, particularly in the case of white goods. Keeping in view India’s vision of becoming ‘Aatmanirbhar’, over Rs 1.28 Lakh Crore of investment was reported until May 2024, which has led to production/sales of Rs 10.8 Lakh Crore and employment generation (direct & indirect) of over Rs 8.5 Lakh under PLI scheme".

Focus has also been on boosting research, development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the country. The number of granted patents increased seventeen-fold from 5,978 in 2014-15 to 1,03,057 in 2023-24. More than 45% of the recognised start-ups are emerging from Tier 2/3 cities.

The country's services sector contributed to about 55% of the total size of the economy in FY24. The clean energy sector in the country also saw new investment of Rs 8.5 lakh crore between 2014 and 2023. India is prominently making a mark in space, with 55 active space assets, out of which 18 are communication satellites, nine navigation satellites, five scientific satellites, three Meteorological Satellites, and 20 are Earth Observation satellites.

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