The growth rate of Himachal Pradesh for the current financial year has been estimated at 6.3 per cent, while the per capita income is estimated at Rs 1,58,462. This is revealed in the Economic Survey report of HP for 2017-18, that was tabled in the state Assembly on Thursday by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Witnessing a drop, the growth rate for the year 2016-17 was 6.8 per cent, while in 2015-16 it was at 7.7 per cent.

The per capita income, however, increased as compared to the previous year which was Rs 1,47,277.

According to the report, the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of HP at current prices in 2016-18 increased to Rs 1,24,236 Crore from Rs 1,13,355 Crore in 2015-16 and as per advance estimates it is likely to be about Rs 1,35,914 Crore in 2017-18.

The growth rate of the state for the last three years is below the national rate, reveals the report.

The per capita income at current prices witnessed an increase of 9.1 per cent as it increased to Rs 1,46,294 in 2016-17 from Rs 1,34,089 in 2015-16.

The data reveals that there are over eight lakh unemployed youth in the state as on 31 December, 2017, as there are 8, 34,714 applicants registered in the state employment exchanges in all the 12 districts.

The agriculture sector in the state generates about 10 per cent to the total GSDP. During the year 2016-17, the anticipated food grain production is 17.45 MT against the achieved production of 16.34 lakh MT during the year 2015-16, thus registering an increase of 6.8 per cent. The target for 2017-18 is 16.45 lakh MT.

Fruit production declined as compared to the previous year as the fruit production was 5.00 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 (up to December 2017) against 6.12 lakh tonnes in 2016-17.

Apple constitutes about 85 per cent of total fruit production, which too declined as during 2017-18 (up to December 2017) 4.28 lakh tonnes of apple were produced against 4.68 lakh tonnes in 2016-17.

Out of the total assessed hydel potential of 27,436 MW, only 10,519 MW has been harnessed up to December 2017 by various agencies, which is 38.34 per cent of the total potential.

2,144 bank branches are functioning in the state as on 30 September, 2017, this has increased by 83 banks from the previous year.

The Credit Deposit Ratio of the state is 44.60. The average population per branch in the state comes to 3,202 against National level of 11,000.

The total road length was 37,158 kms in the state as on 31 December, 2017 and 10,241 villages were connected with roads, while during the previous year the road length was 36,256 kms.

196.02 lakh tourists visited HP during the year 2017, which is 2.9 times of its population. Under Beti Hai Anmol Scheme 16,908 girls have been benefited.