Publication: India Development Update, April 2013
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Date
2013-04
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2013-04
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The economy is likely to expand by 5.0 percent in FY2013. Although the slowing momentum of economic growth may have bottomed out in the third quarter of FY2013, even a substantial pickup in the last quarter of the fiscal year is unlikely to lift the growth rate of real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at factor cost much beyond 5.0 percent given the weakness observed over the previous three quarters. Inflation and fiscal deficit have declined, but the current account deficit has widened. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has had to strike a tough balance between providing some monetary stimulus and restraining further price growth. As inflation, measured by the wholesale price index, has begun to decelerate in recent months, the authorities may gain additional policy room. Continued progress on the reform agenda is key to mitigating downside risks. The authorities' ability to respond to negative external shocks is more limited today than during the 2008-09 global crisis. Additional efforts may be needed to create the fiscal space for India's progress towards universal health coverage. The depreciation of the rupee appears to have lost steam, and the currency strengthened in the second half of the year. With a weaker Balance of Payment (BoP) position, the rupee continued to lose value during FY2013 and hit an all-time low in June, remaining around that level until August. Food inflation remained high while fuel inflation accelerated after deregulation of diesel prices. Expenditure compression in the social sectors and reduction in capital spending allowed for reaching the fiscal targets.
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“World Bank. 2013. India Development Update, April 2013. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/16542 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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