Growth to exceed 7.2%, says Pranab

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said economic growth during the current financial year could exceed 7.2 per cent projected by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO).

Unveiling the budget for 2010-11 in Lok Sabha, he said: "Final figures may turn out to be higher as the economy has done well in the second quarter, ending September 2009, recording a growth rate of 7.9 per cent."

The economic growth figures, released by the CSO earlier in the day, said economy grew by 6 per cent in the third quarter ending December 2009.

Following the global crisis, India's growth rate slipped to 6.7 per cent during 2008-09 from over 9 per cent during the three preceding years.