After the Reserve Bank in its latest monetary policy cut growth forecast to 6.6 per cent from 7.2 per cent, Fitch Ratings has revised India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast for 2024-25 to 6.4 per cent from its previous estimate of 7.0 per cent. Fitch also forecasts India’s GDP to expand by 6.5 per cent in 2025-26, slowing from the 8.2 per cent pace in 2023-24. However, it asserted India’s economic growth remains strong relative to that of global peers.
It said ‘The Indian economy recovered strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic shock. Although indicators point to a more mixed picture in recent months, we do not think that the softness will translate into a prolonged slump in economic activity.’ It expects domestic demand to continue driving economic growth amid a potential trade war between the US and China and a global trade slowdown.
Fitch expects policy continuity in areas that have been key growth drivers, such as the infrastructure drive, digitalisation and ease of doing business measures, even as the government follows through on fiscal consolidation. Public infrastructure capex will remain supportive of the economy and the assets that are directly deployed or related to the sector. The improved health of bank and corporate balance sheets in recent years should also pave the way for a positive investment cycle and faster capital spending.