Education Minister and Rahul Clash Over NEET: Economic Survey Presents 2025 GDP Growth at 7%
The monsoon session of Parliament began today (22nd July) and will run until 12th August. Tomorrow, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the country’s budget. Today, on Monday, 22nd July, Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha. It states that the GDP growth for the financial year 2025 is estimated to be between 6.5% and 7%. During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan spoke about the irregularities in NEET. Meanwhile, the opposition created an uproar and demanded his resignation.
Economic Survey Presented Annually by the Finance Ministry
The Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance presents the Economic Survey in Parliament every year before the Union Budget. It is presented in both houses of Parliament. This survey reviews the developments in the Indian economy over the past 12 months and provides expectations for this year’s budget.
Prime Minister Modi’s Statement Before the Session
Before the session, Prime Minister Modi, while speaking to the media, said, “Today is the first Monday of Sawan. On this auspicious day, an important session has commenced. My aim is to implement the guarantees I give to the countrymen.”
Five Key Points from the Economic Survey
- The Global Energy Price Index fell in FY24. The government reduced the prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel. As a result, retail fuel inflation remained low in FY24. In August 2023, the price of LPG was reduced by 200 rupees per cylinder, and in March 2024, petrol and diesel prices were reduced by 2 rupees per liter.
- The agricultural sector faced challenges due to adverse weather, decreasing reservoirs, and crop damage. This affected agricultural production and food prices, causing food inflation to rise to 7.5% in FY24, compared to 6.6% in 2023.
- The PM-Surya Ghar Yojana is expected to add 30 gigawatts of solar capacity, aiming to create approximately 1.7 million jobs in the solar value chain. The PM-Surya Ghar Yojana was launched this February with an expenditure of Rs. 75,021 crore.
- The fiscal deficit is expected to be 4.5% of GDP or lower by FY26. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also mentioned this in the interim budget presented in February. The fiscal deficit for the financial year 2024-25 is estimated to decrease from 0.7% to 5.1%.
- India’s GDP growth is estimated to be between 6.5% and 7% in FY2024-25. It is stated that India’s real GDP grew at a rate of 8.2% in FY2024. This marks the third consecutive year with GDP growth above 7%.
Details of the Economic Survey
The Economic Survey typically consists of two volumes:
- Economic Survey, Volume I: Pertains to conceptual and analytical issues.
- Economic Survey, Volume II: Relates to the state of India’s economy.
The Economic Survey provides information about the budget priorities for the coming year. Along with the development review, it also highlights sectors that need focus. It analyzes various emerging issues and explains their causes. The Economic Survey is coordinated under the guidance of the Chief Economic Advisor (CEA). It was presented alongside the budget from 1950-51 to 1964. Now it is presented before the budget.
GDP Growth in FY2024
On 31st May, the government also released the provisional estimate for GDP for the entire year, i.e., FY2024. GDP growth in FY24 was 8.2%. In the last financial year, i.e., FY23, GDP growth was 7%. Additionally, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the GDP growth estimate for FY25 to 7.2% a month ago. Besides, RBI maintained the inflation estimate for FY2024-25 at 4.5%.
Education Minister Lashes Out at Rahul Gandhi
There was a massive uproar in Parliament over the NEET exam issue. During the Question Hour, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was responding to opposition MPs regarding NEET. There were several interruptions due to his responses. Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav raised questions about NEET.
The Education Minister said, “The matter is in the Supreme Court, and we will follow whatever direction the court gives. The court has directed the announcement of results city and center-wise for all students, which is in the public domain.”
Rahul Gandhi said, “The country is watching that there are many flaws in the examination system. The Education Minister pointed out everyone’s flaws but not his own. Our exam system is fraudulent.”
To this, the Education Minister responded, “Just shouting does not turn falsehood into truth. The opposition leader’s statement that the country’s examination system is nonsense is highly condemnable.”
Pradhan said, “In 2010, Kapil Sibal brought three bills for education reform in the Manmohan government. One of them was to prevent irregularities. Under whose pressure was it withdrawn? Was it due to pressure from private medical colleges? And now he (Rahul Gandhi) is questioning us.”
Akhilesh Yadav Accuses the Government of Creating a Paper Leak Record
The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are ongoing in Parliament. The opposition said that due to irregularities in NEET, many students lost their lives. In response, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that irregularities occurred in only a few places. The CBI is investigating the case, which is a process.
SP leader Akhilesh Yadav said, “Even if this government does not create any other record, it will definitely create a record of paper leaks. There are many centers where more than 2,000 students have passed the NEET exam, while the total seats are 30,000. As long as they remain the Education Minister, children will not get justice.
