India's FY25 economic growth hits four-year low of 6.5%, Q4 GDP beats estimates

Time of India

a day ago

India's economic growth in FY25 hit a four-year low of 6.5 per cent, slowing down sharply from the 9.2 per cent growth recorded in FY24. However,
Q4 GDP growth
beat estimates after accelerating to 7.4 per cent but it couldn't save the economy from posting its slowest growth since Covid-era.
Nonetheless, New Delhi's key officials have backed India's growth potential and vouched that the country will retain its title as the
fastest-growing major economy
in the world.
The full-year growth remained within official projections, as private investment remained subdued amid global uncertainties.
In the quarter ending March 31, 2025, India's growth stood at 7.4 per cent, on the back of robust industrial activity and sustained global trade tensions grew larger by day.
The third quarter had seen growth rise to 6.2 per cent, revised upward from an earlier estimate of 5.6 per cent, showing resilience amid global headwinds.
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The fourth quarter was marred by global trade disruptions led by Trump's tariffs and escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, the Indian economy powered through the storm on the back of pick up rural demand and healthy government spending.
Moreover, the latest growth figures continue to keep New Delhi in the race of fastest economies in the world. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also expects India's economic size to surpass Japan's by the end of the year, reaching $4.18 trillion.
A notable divergence between GDP and gross value added (GVA) was expected with the latter stripping out taxes and subsidies for a clearer picture of underlying economic activity. The GVA stood at 6.4 per cent.
JP Morgan, for instance, estimated March quarter GDP growth at 7.5%, but GVA growth at a more modest 6.7%.
Some analysts said that the higher-than-expected GDP print might be a reflection of a fall in government subsidies, which could inflate the headline number without reflecting equivalent real economic momentum.
Despite the external challenges, the Indian economy remains relatively healthy due to its limited reliance on global goods trade, recent tax cuts, controlled inflation and a potentially softer interest rate environment.
'While external uncertainties—such as supply chain disruptions and energy market volatility—pose challenges, India continues to benefit from strong service sector performance, a stable banking system, and improving manufacturing output under schemes like PLI,' said Dr. Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomerics Valuations and Ratings Ltd.
In February 2025, the RBI had, for the first time in five years, cut the repo rate by 25 bps, a move expected to aid India's growth blitz.
Retail inflation dropped to a near six-year low of 3.16% in April, and a favourable monsoon forecast is expected to help stabilize food prices—factors that could allow the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to consider a rate cut in June.
Looking ahead, the RBI has projected 6.5% growth for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2025.
'On the inflation front, CPI is expected to moderate from 4.9% in FY25 to 4.3% in FY26, aided by easing food prices, prudent monetary policy, and a normal monsoon forecast. However, inflationary risks persist because of global commodity prices and any escalation in geopolitical tensions,' said Sharma.