Govt seeks to retain goodwill among beneficiaries of welfare schemes

Prompted by the sharp increase in the April retail and wholesale inflation numbers, the government on Saturday unveiled a series of measures, aimed at ensuring that demand and economic activity are not hit hard, while also seeking to retain the goodwill among beneficiaries of government schemes.

- Surojit Gupta & Sidhartha

New Delhi: From last weekend’s wheat export ban to the latest set of measures, including those on fuel, cooking gas, iron and steel, and plastics, the Centre has sought to blunt the impact of global commodity prices on the Indian economy. There are indications that edible oil prices may soften in the coming weeks after Indonesia decided to review the export ban on palm oil.

“During these challenging international conditions, PM Modi-led government has provided a major relief to the common man by reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel and offering a subsidy of Rs 200 on cooking gas cylinders. Steps have been taken in other sectors too so that prices come down,” tweeted home minister Amit Shah, who is part of a ministerial panel keeping a watch on the price situation.