Govt spend on social services up by 1.5% in six years: Eco Survey

According to the Survey, as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP), the expenditure on social services has registered an increase of 1.5 percentage points during the period 2014-15 to 2019-20 from 6.2% to 7.7%, it said.

Highlighting the significance of social infrastructure for inclusive growth and social well-being of its people, the Economic Survey 2019-20 said the expenditure on social services by the centre and states increased from 7.68 lakh crore in 2014-15 to 15.79 lakh crore in 2019-20 (Budget Estimate).

“Investment in social infrastructure is a pre-requisite for inclusive growth and employment,” it said. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey in Parliament on Friday.

According to the Survey, as a proportion of gross domestic product (GDP), the expenditure on social services has registered an increase of 1.5 percentage points during the period 2014-15 to 2019-20 from 6.2% to 7.7%, it said.

While the expenditure on education, as percentage of GDP increased from 2.8% to 3.1% between 2014-15 and 2019-20 (BE), expenditure on health increased from 1.2% to 1.6% during the same period as percentage of GDP, the pre-Budget document notes.

The Survey pointed out that India's rank in the Human Development Index (HDI) improved to 129 in 2018 from 130 in 2017, reaching a value of 0.647. “With 1.34% average annual HDI growth, India is among the fastest improving countries,” it said.

Among its BRICS peers, India is ahead of China (0.95), South Africa (0.78), Russian Federation (0.69) and Brazil (0.59). “To sustain this momentum in human development and to further accelerate it, the role of public sector in delivery of social services is critical,” observes the Survey.