The Planning Commission is likely to cut the annual average economic growth rate target of 8 per cent for the 12th Plan (2012-17) to around 6 to 6.5 per cent in its mid-term review of the five-year policy document.

“It would be difficult to achieve the 8 per cent average economic growth in the 12th Plan period in view of slowdown. It is quite possible that the commission will cut the target substantially to around 6 per cent,” an official said.

As per the practice, the commission comes out with a mid-term review of plans during the third financial year of the policy period.

11th Plan target

In its last mid-term review, the commission had cut the annual average growth rate target of 9 per cent to 8.2 per cent for the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2007-12). But only 8 per cent average annual economic growth was achieved in 11th Plan.

Reeling under the impact of slowdown, Indian economy grew 5 per cent in 2012-13, the first year of the 12th Plan. The economic growth is expected to be flat this year. The first quarter (April-June) economic growth has slipped to 4.4 per cent from 4.8 per cent in the previous January-March quarter.

According to experts, with a presumption that the economic growth remains 5 per cent in the first two years of the 12th Plan, the country has to maintain a rate of around 10 per cent in the remaining three financial years of policy period to achieve the targeted 8 per cent, which is not possible.

The Plan itself talks about different growth scenarios. The document said that in the absence of sufficient action to promote economy, the average growth would range from 6 top 6.5 per cent.

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