India's government expects economic growth to slow in the financial year ending March, as pandemic-related distortions ease and pent-up demand for goods levels out going into 2023.
Gross domestic product (GDP) will likely rise 7 per cent this fiscal year, compared with 8.7 per cent the previous year, the Ministry of Statistics said in its first estimate for the period that put manufacturing growth at just 1.6 per cent, according to Reuters.
The preliminary overall projection is lower than the government's earlier forecast of 8 per cent-8.5 per cent, but above the central bank's 6.8 per cent.
The government uses the estimates as a basis for its growth and fiscal projections for the next budget due on Feb 1. That will be the last full budget before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to run for a rare third term in elections due in the summer 2024.
India's economy rebounded after COVID-19 restrictions were eased around mid-2022, but the war in Ukraine has spurred inflationary pressures, prompting the central bank to reverse the ultra-loose monetary policy it adopted during the pandemic.
It has raised key interest rates by 225 basis points since May to 6.25 per cent, the highest in three years, and another modest hike is expected early this year.
Since September, economists have been cutting their 2022/23 growth projections to around 7 per cent due to slowing exports and risks of high inflation crimping purchasing power.
Construction growth was projected at 9.1 per cent, electricity at 9 per cent and agriculture at 3.5 per cent. Manufacturing and mining growth were forecast at 1.6 per cent and 2.4 per cent.
Growth in manufacturing was disappointing as corporate profits in the second quarter shrunk, said Madan Sabnavis, an economist at Bank of Baroda.
India's nominal growth, which includes inflation, is projected to be at 15.4 per cent for 2022/23, up from an earlier 11.1 per cent estimate.
"The nominal GDP growth is higher, implying that the government's fiscal deficit target will be achieved," said Sabnavis.
India remains a relative "bright spot" in the world economy, but needs to leverage its existing strength in services exports and extend it to job-rich manufacturing exports, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said on Friday.
It is expected to remain the second-fastest growing economy –- lagging only Saudi Arabia -– among G20 countries, according to the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
India's growth potential is likely to be dented in the fiscal year starting on Apr 1, due to weak exports among other factors, Pranjul Bhandari economist at HSBC Securities and Capital Markets said in a note to clients.
"Buoyant albeit mixed domestic consumption should help to stave off some of the pain arising from weak exports during this period," Aditi Nayar, an economist at ICRA.
