RBI lowers GDP growth projection to 9.5 % for 2021-22

The Reserve Bank on Friday lowered the country’s growth projection for the current financial year to 9.5% from 10.5% estimated earlier, amid uncertainties created by the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Addressing the media after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said the sudden rise in COVID-19 infections, and fatalities have impaired the near nascent recovery that was underway but has not snuffed it out.

The impulses of growth are still alive, he said and added that the aggregate supply conditions have shown resilience in the face of the second wave.

The RBI Governor said the RBI will “continue to think and act out of the box”, planning for the worst and hoping for the best.

Das further said the measures announced on Friday, in conjunction with other steps taken so far are expected to reclaim the growth trajectory from which “we have slid”.

In April, the Reserve Bank had projected the real GDP growth for 2021-22 at 10.5%.

India’s economy had contracted by less-than-expected 7.3% in the fiscal year ended March 2021, after the growth rate picked up in the fourth quarter. The gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.6 % in the January-March period, up from 0.5% in the previous quarter.

“… real GDP growth is now projected at 9.5% in 2021-22 consisting of 18.5% in Q1; 7.9% in Q2; 7.2 % in Q3; and 6.6 % in Q4 of 2021-22,” the Governor said.