September 19, 2025 07:24 AM IST
First published on: Sep 19, 2025 at 07:11 AM IST
The country’s Seventh Five-Year Plan envisages an annual growth rate of five per cent, with increased emphasis on infrastructure and human resource development. “This is a financially sound plan which is eminently bankable,” Manmohan Singh, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, told newsmen. He said that it was not only realistic but had no gaps in resources. The growth rate projected for agriculture was 4 per cent and for industry 8 per cent.
Ceasefire in Sri Lanka
The Indian Government appeared to have persuaded the representatives of Sri Lanka’s Eelam National Liberation Front (ENLF) to agree to observe the extended ceasefire on the island. At the end of yet another round of talks in New Delhi between the ENLF leaders and the Foreign Secretary, Romesh Bhandari, the government expressed the hope that the Tamil militants and the Sri Lankan government would “faithfully observe” the extended ceasefire. The ENLF leaders are believed to have given their assurance to observe the ceasefire after a great deal of cajoling and persuasion. All through their discussions with the Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, and Bhandari, they reportedly underlined the need to secure proper guarantees from the Sri Lankan government that its security forces would strictly observe the truce.
India refuses the US
India all BUT turned down the US plea for taking initiatives to avoid nuclear competition in the Subcontinent. Reacting to the plea made by the two visiting US officials, during their talks with Indian officials and leaders, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman, pointed out that India was already committed “not to produce nuclear weapons”. “If it can be ensured that Pakistan likewise becomes committed, and the US can assist in this process, where then is the need for a regional agreement?” he asked. India believed that Pakistan’s nuclear programme was directed towards acquiring weapons capability. In its view, the best way to deal with the situation was to prevent Pakistan from acquiring it.
