Just as India was showing initial signs of emerging from a slowdown, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman was forced to confront a totally unexpected challenge: a pandemic.
The government had to redraw battle plans and impose a lockdown, which triggered an economic collapse. Over the course of last week, the finance minister has outlined the contours of a ₹20 trillion stimulus package.
In an interview on Tuesday, Sitharaman defended the government’s decisions and said it will not hesitate to take more steps to support Indian businesses.
Edited excerpts: The relaxation of the lockdown curbs has begun. Are you expecting a surge once the postponed consumption demand kicks in? I am expecting a surge in growth, but it may be gradual because the