GDP numbers present ‘greatly distorted picture’ of economy, says Congress

The 7.8% growth rate of India’s gross domestic product in the April-June quarter presents a “greatly distorted picture” of the economy, claimed the Congress on Monday.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation had published the GDP numbers earlier in the day, saying that the manufacturing sector grew 9.2% during the first quarter of the financial year 2026-’27. This was up from 8.3% in the same period last year. The services sector grew 10%, compared with 8% a year ago, it added.

The overall GDP numbers published by the ministry surpassed the 7% forecast by the Reserve Bank of India for the quarter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the country’s growth as a “herculean feat” achieved despite “oil price shocks and supply chain issues” amid the war in West Asia. “Doomsayers were doomed and India bloomed…yet again,” he wrote on social media.

India’s exemplary GDP growth of 7.8% during Q1 of FY 2026-27 is a herculean feat.

The collective strength of our people ensured India delivered such growth despite oil price shocks and supply chain issues in the midst of global uncertainties.

Doomsayers were doomed and India…— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2026

However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the GDP numbers do not convey the “decidedly depressed private investment sentiment in the economy – both...

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