Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday that inflation has been kept at 6% or below despite adverse circumstances as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The rise in prices is a matter on which the Centre is very sensitive and responsive, she said.
Sitharaman said the pandemic and the conflict had a bearing on the prices of commodities that India imports, adding that the government has taken measures, including giving subsidies.
"Will you compare the situation prevailing everywhere, particularly after Covid, particularly after the Russia and Ukraine war? The prices of the commodities we import are all skyrocketing. They are not produced in India. We totally import. Is that price rise mine? But that price hits me. And there, I have to give support," the minister said.
"Even in this adverse circumstances inflation has been kept at 6% or below. There are times it goes up. Then we work together with RBI and say, Please control it," Sitharaman said.
Wherever it is not possible, for instance with imported crude oil and cooking gas, the government tries to give subsidies, she said.
"It may not be enough, but we try to give subsidy," she said.
"We have to allow imports on a higher basis and reduce customs duty so that more edible oil can come," Sitharaman said.
In this regard, edible oil containers are being built around Mangaluru airport, the minister said.
"These are both short- and medium-term steps so that inflation can be brought down so that "Samanya Praja," or the ordinary citizen, and their suffering can be brought down," Sitharaman said.
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