Following are the highlights of Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2010–11, presented in Parliament today:

*Economy to grow at 8.6 per cent in 2010-11 and 9 % in the next fiscal.

*Gross Fiscal Deficit stands at 4.8 per cent of GDP in,down from 6.3 per cent last year.

*Inflation expected to be 1.5 per cent higher than what It would be if the economy were not on growth path.

*Economy sees broad-based growth; rebound in farm and Continued momentum in manufacturing, private services.

*Fundamentals strong with growing savings and Investments, rapid rise in exports.

*Industrial output grows by 8.6 per cent; manufacturing Sector registers 9.1 per cent.

*Exports in April-December 2010 up 29.5 per cent; imports Up 19 per cent.

*Trade gap narrowed to USD 82.01 billion in Apr-Dec 2010.

*Food inflation, higher commodity prices and volatility, In global commodity markets cause of concern.

*Inflation continues to be high; need to monitor emerging trends in inflation on a sequential monthly basis.

*To check food inflation, the government should improve delivery mechanisms by strengthening institutions and addressing corruption.

*Savings rate has gone up to 33.7 per cent, while the investment rate is up at 36.5 per cent of GDP.

*Rising food inflation underlines need for larger investment in farming, enroute to 2nd Green Revolution.

*Net bank credit grows by 59 per cent.

*Social programme spending stepped up by 5 percentage points of GDP over past 5 years.

*Production of foodgrains estimated at 232.1 mn tonnes.

*Forex Reserves estimated at USD 297.3 billion.

*Accelerated investments needed in infrastructure to Address delays,cost overruns, regulatory impediments.

*Telecom sector did exceedingly well; role of services Sector as the potential growth engine laudable.

*Policies needed to promote new areas such as accounting,legal, tourism, education, financial and other services.

*Economic growth to be faster than ever before in next two decades.

*Need for efficient taxation of goods and services by a new GST regime.

*Improve convergence of social and financial inclusion schemes to check unemployment, poverty and leakages.

*Reform university and higher education; correct demand supply mismatch in job market.

*Meet resource gap in higher education through public private partnership, with regulatory oversight.