Talking to media persons after assuming charge here, Pant said in a democracy consensus was essential. The former defence minister clarified that his remarks were of a preliminary nature he has not yet seen the Ninth Plan document which is to go before the National Development Council for its approval on February 19. The Ninth Plan would be on the Internet by next week and will be sent to the State Governments.

Pant was flanked by new members of the Planning Commission, Dr S P Gupta and D N Tiwari, as also those associated with it earlier -- Montek Singh Ahluwalia and Prof S R Hashim, who was earlier member secretary but has now now been made a member.

Pant said security was a holistic concept and there was need to integrate it with economic dimensions, which include trade,technology and agriculture.

To a question about the viable growth rate for the Ninth Plan, Pant replied that 6.5 per cent has been envisaged for the entire period. This would require a seven per cent growth rate for the remaining three years of the paln.

Asked whether the fact that the economy was in doldrums would make his job very difficult, he said it would be his endeavour to improve things and work within the given parametres.

Pant said planning was a process aimed at achieving certain goals in the future which will decide where the country will be in the 21st century. The more ambitious the goal the harder the effort that is required. The country has to decide how ambitious the targets have to be.

Stressing the need for closer interaction between the states and the commission, he said there is need on the part of the two to identify the skills and resources to achieve these goals.

Talking about the state of the world economy, he said the South-East Asian meltdown had affected various parts. Tosome extent India has escaped direct fall out of the sharp slowdown but it had been affected by way of exports and imports.