Indian economy projected to grow 8%

Despite registering a tepid growth in the April-June quarter, Asia’s third biggest economy is expected to gain strength amid broadening of the domestic consumption base, maintaining its tag of the world's fastest growing large economy.

American rating agency, S&P Global Ratings, has projected that Indian economy will touch 8 per cent growth over the next few years supported by the ongoing momentum in India’s structural reforms, most recently with the passage of the goods and service tax (GST).

The newfound faith in the Indian economy is largely backed by the measures taken by the Modi government since taking office in May 2014. India has now successfully managed to improve its competitiveness and ease of doing business rankings. Reforms like passage of GST is expected to remove the cascading effects and the inefficiencies created by different layers of taxes across states and the central government.

Easing of restrictions on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will now foster productivity growth in some sectors. The bankruptcy law, improved access to bank accounts and measures aimed at easing business starts would surely push up the economic growth.

Further, a normal monsoon in fiscal 2017 is expected to give thrust to the agricultural growth, pushing it above the trend level, given the current low base due to two successive monsoon failures. This should lift the sagging rural consumption demand and boost the overall GDP growth. Fortunately for India, weather forecasters accord a higher probability for normal monsoon.

However, inflation still remains a risk, given the large weights on food, fuel, and other volatile items in the Reserve Bank of India's target basket. In terms of the monetary policy framework, the Government of India has notified a CPI inflation target of 4 per cent, within a tolerance band of 2 per cent-6 per cent until March 2021. Such a scenario would help to anchor inflationary expectations. In addition, a favourable base effect as well as an improved crop sowing dynamics will ensure that CPI inflation remains within this tolerance band in the near term.

Going forward, growth in fiscal 2017 will also find support from higher pensions announced by the government, coupled with above-average monsoon and lower interest rates.

Latin Manharlal