[1] With the deteriorating global situation, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said that achieving an average growth rate of 8 per cent in the next five years is not possible.
The final growth target has been set at 8% by the endorsement of plan at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held in New Delhi.
The approached paper for the 12th Plan, approved last year, talked about an annual average growth rate of 9 per cent.
He also indicated that soon he would share his views with other members of the commission to choose a final number (economic growth target) to put before the country's NDC for its approval.
Mr Ahluwalia said, "We aim to reduce poverty estimates by 2 per cent annually on a sustainable basis during the Plan period".