NEW DELHI: Initiating a discussion on Budget 2026-27 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday Congress' P Chidambaram attacked govt for cutting capital expenditure in 2025-26.
"This is a forgettable budget... which has been prepared by a finance minister who forgot the promises made by her in this House last year," the former finance minister said.
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Chidambaram pointed out that the nominal growth rate in 2023-2024 was 12%, but reduced to 9.8% in the past fiscal year.
"For almost 12 years, capital investment, gross fixed capital formation, has been stuck at 30% of GDP. Net FDI in 2024-25 collapsed to less than 0.09%. foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) are pulling out. Private investment, although the companies are cash rich, is stuck at 22% of the GDP," Chidambaram said.
"Where is the reform express gathering momentum," he questioned.