The countrys inflation rate is may start softening by December-end and drop below 8 per cent by March next year,Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said today. Addressing the Editors Conference here,Ahluwalia said,Inflation is going to be brought under control by the end of the year (March 2012). You will see inflation lower than 8 per cent then, he argued. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Prime Ministers Economic Advisory Council Chairman C Rangarajan have also echoed similar views. Outlining the Commissions priorities for the 12th Plan period,the deputy chairman said agricultural growth,rising urbanisation,energy,land,water and delivery of public services were the key challenges ahead. The 12th Plan envisages a huge improvement in the marketing of agricultural products. For this,the monopoly of mandis and middlemen needs to be removed to ensure a fair price to small and marginal farmers, he said. Asked to comment whether public-private partnerships should be brought under the purview of the Right To Information (RTI) Act,the deputy chairman said he was in its favour but questions should be directed at the government agency monitoring a project. The Unique Identification Authority of India has to get periodic approval (from the government). For the second phase of the Aadhaar we are preparing a Cabinet note, he told the conference.
