India confronted global meltdown with ease: FM

New Delhi, Feb 26: Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented the General Budget for 2010-2011 in Parliament on Friday, Feb 26, with an assurance that the worst was over for the Indian economy.

Mukherjee said, "Today, as I stand before you, I can say with some confidence that we have weathered this crisis well."

"That is not to say that the challenges today are any less than they were nine months ago, when the UPA was voted back to power under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," added Mukherjee.

Mukherjee claimed the three challenges that were listed last year remained relevant even today. The challenge of quickly reverting to a high growth rate of 9 percent and cross over to double-digit expansion; making growth more inclusive and developing infrastructure in rural areas; and strengthening food security.

ANI