AMN /NEW DELHI

jaitelyFinance Minister Arun Jaitley has said the government has taken steps for structural reforms of the economy and it will show positive results in the long term.

He said the structural reforms have been taken despite global weakness and back to back droughts in the previous years.

Replying to a Short Duration discussion in the Raya Sabha on the “country’s state of economy, investment climate, job creation and unemployment”, Mr. Jaitley said, steps, such as Aadhaar, Direct Benefits Transfer and GST are the structural reforms which were initiated by the earlier government but could not be executed.

He said the Indian economy was the fastest growing economy in the world for the three consecutive years and despite structural changes it is expected to be 2nd fastest growing economy next year.

Earlier, initiating the discussion Anand Sharma of the Congress expressed concern over the state of economy and said demonetization has impacted it adversely.

He wanted to know how much black money has come to the government as a result of demonetization. He said exports have declined despite decrease in the international crude prices.

Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav of the Samajwadi Party alleged that there has been no improvement in the living standards of people residing in rural areas. He said the accelerated growth in agriculture alone can improve condition of rural population.