Question : RETAIL MARKET

(a) whether the retail market in the country is growing at the annual growth rate of 22 percent with the addition of approximately 2 to 2.50 crores of new middle class consumers each year;

(b) if so, whether the Government has made any assessment regarding the increase in number of small and big shopkeepers in the retail market of the country every year;

(c) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise and year-wise; and

(d) the criteria adopted by the Government for defining small and big retailers?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI TASLIMUDDIN)

(a) : As per a study commissioned to Indian Council for Research on International Relations (ICRIER) by the Department of Consumer Affairs, the size of Indian retail market has been estimated at Rs. 7,40,000 crore in the year 2002. On an average, this sector has grown at 7% per annum during 1999-2002.

(b) : No, sir .

(c) : Does not arise .

(d) : According to 10th Five Year Plan Document(2002-2007), the average size of a retail unit in India is less than 500sq.ft. However, no criteria have been evolved by the Government for classifying retailers into small and big.