'Per capita income can double in 9 yrs at present growth rate'

The Planning Commission today said the country's per capita income would be doubled in nine years with the economy expanding at current rate of growth.

"With the current growth rate, per capita income of India will get doubled in nine years," Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said addressing on the occasion of the convocation at Amity University in Noida.

The per capita income at current prices during 2009-10 is estimated at Rs 44,345 per annum as per the latest government data.

Amity University also conferred honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Ahluwalia.

The economy has grown by 8.9 per cent in the first half (April-September) this fiscal. The government estimated 8.5 per cent economic growth this fiscal with 0.35 per cent variation on either side.

The gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 7.4 per cent in 2009-10.

On this occasion Ahluwalia also stressed on the need for more public private partnerships in the education particularly in higher education.