GOVERNOR

FOREWORD

The Handbook of Statistics on Indian Economy is a flagship publication of the Reserve Bank containing macroeconomic times-series and statistical data on a wide range of financial and economic indicators.

2. So far, the practice has been to issue this Handbook in print and in CD-ROM. I am happy to note that starting with this 2008-09 volume, the 11th in the series, the Handbook is being simultaneously released electronically on the Reserve Bank's Data Warehouse platform. This dynamic version will now be updated on a more frequent basis so that researchers, analysts and market participants have access to information almost on a real-time basis. My compliments to the Department of Economic Analysis and Policy for preparing the Handbook and to the Department of Statistics and Information Management for facilitating its release on the Data Warehouse platform.

3. I trust users will find this Handbook and the online dissemination now proposed useful. We will be happy to receive feedback on how this print and electronic publication could be improved by way of content, updating and dissemination.