Need for more jobs, sweeter personal I-T regime, says Debroy

More jobs need to be created in the economy in line with its growth, especially for the urban young, and the new personal income tax (I-T) regime needs to be further sweetened to encourage its adoption, Bibek Debroy, chairman of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Economic Advisory Council, said.

- Gireesh Chandra Prasad & Utpal Bhaskar

In an interview ahead of the National Democratic Alliance government's pre-election budget on Thursday, Debroy said the only way to make the new personal. I-T regime more attractive is to reduce tax rates. The challenges facing the Indian economy include disruptions to the global supply chain, logistics problems and maybe even crude oil prices, Debroy said. Edited excerpts: