The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its latest ‘World Economic Outlook Update, July 2024’, has revised India’s growth projection upward to 7 per cent for 2024 from 6.8 per cent projected earlier, with the change reflecting carryover from upward revisions to growth in 2023 and improved prospects for private consumption, particularly in rural areas. The country maintaining the fastest-growing status in emerging markets and developing economies.
The IMF had earlier projected growth rate of 6.5 per cent for 2024, revising it to 6.8 per cent and now 7 per cent. For the year 2025, the IMF has maintained its growth projection for the country at 6.5 per cent. It attributed robustness and strength in domestic demand and a rising working-age population behind its growth projections.
IMF said the forecast for growth in emerging market and developing economies has been revised upward and the projected increase is powered by stronger activity in Asia, particularly China and India. For China, the growth forecast has been revised upward to 5 percent in 2024, primarily on account of a rebound in private consumption and strong exports in the first quarter.
According to the Indian government data, India’s GDP grew at an impressive 8.2 per cent during the financial year 2023-24, and it continued to remain the fastest-growing major economy. India’s economy grew 7.2 per cent in 2022-23 and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22 respectively.