The year 2010 showed an optimistic beginning for the Indian economy. 2009 ended with 18.5% growth rate in the manufacturing sector, which was the highest in the last twenty years. The anti-crisis measures that India took as a counter step for the financial downturn proved her resilience. The economic forecast for the current year and future is promising. But this optimism is halted by the challenges that are imposing on the Indian economy.

In the budget of 2010-11, the financial minister has outlined three main challenges that the present Indian economy faces. The first challenge is to get India back on the right track of growing GDP. The target is to reach at least the 9% growth rate, so that achieving double-digit number GDP will seem real and feasible. The second concern that India has to tackle is to bring about a more inclusive government wherein no individual or community is denied an opportunity for growth, and where everyone gets the growth benefits. The third challenge, and the most difficult one perhaps is to address government loopholes at different strata, to improve public services, and to perk up delivery mechanisms.

Other than these challenges, of course there is inflation always threatening to bring the Indian economy down. Food price rise due to failed monsoon, gas, petrol and diesel price hike result in an economic spiraling effect.

All these challenges call for a change in the reform policies. The immediate step that India has to take in order to fight these challenges is to consolidate its growth. There is an urgent need for appraisal of public spending, and to mobilize resources so that it can bring about economic productivity. The stable government and its continued steady performance, and the high domestic savings and investments in the recent years are indications of the growing Indian economy.