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NEW DELHI, 04 April 2023 – India’s growth continues to be resilient despite some signs of moderation in growth, says the World Bank in its latest India Development Update, the World Bank India’s biannual flagship publication.
The Update notes that although significant challenges remain in the global environment, India was one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The overall growth remains robust and is estimated to be 6.9 percent for the full year with real GDP growing 7.7 percent year-on-year during the first three quarters of fiscal year 2022/23. There were some signs of moderation in the second half of FY 22/23. Growth was underpinned by strong investment activity bolstered by the government’s capex push and buoyant private consumption, particularly among higher income earners. Inflation remained high, averaging around 6.7 percent in FY22/23 but the current-account deficit narrowed in Q3 on the back of strong growth in service exports and easing global commodity prices.
The World Bank has revised its FY23/24 GDP forecast to 6.3 percent from 6.6 percent (December 2022). Growth is expected to be constrained by slower consumption growth and challenging external conditions. Rising borrowing costs and slower income growth will weigh on private consumption growth, and government consumption is projected to grow at a slower pace due to the withdrawal of pandemic-related fiscal support measures.
“The Indian economy continues to show strong resilience to external shocks," said Auguste Tano Kouame, World Bank's Country Director in India. “Notwithstanding external pressures, India’s service exports have continued to increase, and the current-account deficit is narrowing.”
Although headline inflation is elevated, it is projected to decline to an average of 5.2 percent in FY23/24, amid easing global commodity prices and some moderation in domestic demand. The Reserve Bank of India’s has withdrawn accommodative measures to rein in inflation by hiking the policy interest rate. India’s financial sector also remains strong, buoyed by improvements in asset quality and robust private-sector credit growth.
The central government is likely to meet its fiscal deficit target of 5.9 percent of GDP in FY23/24 and combined with consolidation in state government deficits, the general government deficit is also projected to decline. As a result, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to stabilize. On the external front, the current account deficit is projected to narrow to 2.1 percent of GDP from an estimated 3 percent in FY22/23 on the back of robust service exports and a narrowing merchandise trade deficit.
“Spillovers from recent developments in financial markets in the US and Europe pose a risk to short-term investment flows to emerging markets, including India,” said Dhruv Sharma, Senior Economist, World Bank, and lead author of the report. “But Indian banks remain well capitalized.”
Outlook
| Indicator (percent y-o-y, unless otherwise indicated) | FY19/20 | FY20/21 | FY21/22 | FY22/23 | FY23/24 |
| Real GDP Growth, at constant market prices | 3.9 | -5.8 | 9.1 | 6.9 | 6.3 |
| Private Consumption | 5.2 | -5.2 | 11.2 | 8.3 | 6.9 |
| Government Consumption | 3.9 | -0.9 | 6.6 | 1.2 | -1.1 |
| Gross Fixed Capital Formation | 1.1 | -7.3 | 14.6 | 10.1 | 9.3 |
| Exports, Goods and Services | -3.4 | -9.1 | 29.3 | 11.5 | 9.2 |
| Imports, Goods and Services | -0.8 | -13.7 | 21.8 | 19.0 | 11.6 |
| Real GDP Growth, at constant factor prices | 3.9 | -4.2 | 8.8 | 6.6 | 6.3 |
| Agriculture | 6.2 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 3.4 |
| Industry | -1.4 | -0.9 | 11.6 | 3.6 | 6.8 |
| Services | 6.4 | -8.2 | 8.8 | 9.5 | 6.7 |
| Inflation (Consumer Price Index) | 4.8 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 6.6 | 5.2 |
| Current Account Balance (percent of GDP) | -0.9 | 0.9 | -1.2 | -3.0 | -2.1 |
| Fiscal Balance (percent of GDP) | -7.2 | -13.3 | -10.5 | -9.4 | -8.7 |
| Debt (percent of GDP) | 73.6 | 87.5 | 85.4 | 83.0 | 83.4 |
| Primary Balance (percent of GDP) | -2.5 | -7.8 | -5.2 | -4.2 | -3.3 |
Diana Chung
Shilpa Banerji
00:06 Hello friends.
00:08 We have just launched the latest edition of our flagship report,
00:13 the Spring 2023 India Development Update.
00:17 The headline story is that the Indian economy
00:19 continues to show strong resilience to external shocks.
00:24 The IDU forecasts GDP growth at 6.3% for fiscal year 2023 to 2024.
00:31 This forecast is supported by strong investment
00:35 thanks to public spending in infrastructure
00:37 and strong services exports.
00:40 However,
00:41 there have been some signs of moderation
00:43 in economic growth since October last year.
00:46 This has been largely driven by moderation in consumption growth,
00:51 rising borrowing costs.
00:53 fiscal consolidation
00:55 and global spillovers.
00:57 The IDU's growth forecast of 6.3% is in fact
01:02 a downward revision from our December forecast of 6.6%.
01:07 The IDU also forecasts
01:09 a reduction in inflation
01:11 from 6.6% to 5.2%.
01:15 A reduction in
01:16 the current account
01:18 deficit from 3% of GDP
01:20 to 2.1%.
01:22 And a reduction in overall government fiscal deficit
01:26 from 9.4% to 8.7%.
01:30 However,
01:31 these forecasts can be affected by global headwinds,
01:36 including
01:37 possible deceleration in the global economy.
01:40 Adverse developments in the global financial system.
01:44 And global monetary policy tightening
01:47 to fight inflation.
01:49 We remain confident though
01:51 that
01:52 India's policy stance
01:54 and planned structural reforms
01:56 will help shield the economy from these potential headwinds
02:00 and make
02:01 the future growth of the economy stronger
02:04 and more inclusive.
02:05 Thank you.
About The World Bank
The World Bank Group has a bold vision: to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. In more than 100 countries, the World Bank Group provides financing, advice, and innovative solutions that improve lives by creating jobs, strengthening economic growth, and confronting the most urgent global challenges. For more information, please visit www.worldbank.org, www.miga.org, and www.ifc.org.
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