India pitches for rating upgrade from S&P

New Delhi (PTI): Pitching for upgrading sovereign rating, the India showed full confidence that global agencies will upgrade the country's sovereign rating in the backdrop of bold and tough decisions taken by government to contain fiscal deficit and promote growth. Talking to reporters after meeting a with representatives of rating agency Standard and Poor's, Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram said there was no case of rating downgrading as the government has taken bold and tough decisions, like reducing subsidies on petroleum products. "I think there is a case for an upgrade because we have taken the kind of decisions that most of countries in the world have not been able to take. This country has shown its determination to put the economy back on track. We believe it will happen and there is no doubt about it," he said. Mayaram said 36 per cent of total subsidies globally on petroleum products is given by developed countries, while India has started phasing out such subsidies. He said the S&P representatives were informed that government was resolved to check fiscal deficit and speed up mega projects, including by the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure. CCI has cleared projects worth billions of dollars in the recent weeks. "We have spoken to them convincingly. We have shown that the reforms is on track," he added. Similar meeting has taken place with Fitch on April 12. Earlier, S&P and Fitch had threatened to downgrade India's credit rating. After the presentation of Union Budget, the two had said India's sovereign rating is unaffected but had warned that policy execution and controlling subsidies would be the key risks to look out for during the year.