GDP India to contract by 7.7% in 2020-21: CSO

Advance Estimates of GDP of 2020-21 released by National Statistics Office

The National Statistics Office (NSO), India released the first Advance Estimates (AE) of GDP for the year 2020-21. The real GDP at 2011-12 prices in 2020-21 has been estimated to contract by 7.7 per cent and nominal GDP at current prices by 4.2 per cent. 

As per quarterly estimates of NSO, real GDP contracted by 15.7 percent in first half of 2020-21. Real GDP on a quarter-on-quarter basis grew at 21 percent from Q1: FY 2020-21 to Q2: FY 2020-21. The AE of 2020-21reflects continued resurgence in economic activity in Q3 and Q4, which would enable the Indian economy to end the year with a contraction of 7.7 percent. 

The continuous quarter-on-quarter growth endorses the strength of economic fundamentals of the country to sustain a post-lockdown V-shaped recovery. On the demand side, real GDP in 2020-21 has been supported by an estimated increase in Government Consumption Expenditure by 5.8 percent. 

On the supply side, agriculture is estimated to register a positive growth of 3.4 percent against 4.0 percent as per the PE of 2019-20. In the manufacturing sector, electricity sector is estimated to register a positive growth of 2.7 percent. 

The pandemic and associated public health measures have adversely affected the contact-sensitive services sector where trade, hotels, transport & communication are estimated to contract by 21.4 percent in FY: 2020-21. The movement of various high frequency indicators in recent months, points towards broad based nature of resurgence of economic activity. The relatively more manageable pandemic situation in the country as compared to advanced nations has further added momentum to the economic recovery. 

As two vaccines get emergency use approval in India, the government is undertaking preparations of a mass mega vaccination drive. However, while the impending vaccination is drawing closer, continued observation of, Covid-appropriate behaviour, caution and surveillance is crucial.