Indian Economy Grows 8.4% In July-September Quarter

New Delhi: India's GDP growth slowed to 8.4% in the second quarter of 2021-22, mainly due to the waning low base effect but the economy has surpassed the pre-pandemic level, official data showed on Tuesday.

The GDP growth in the April-June quarter of this fiscal stood at 20.1%. The Indian economy had contracted by 24.4% in April-June last year.

The gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 7.4% in the corresponding July-September quarter of 2020-21, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

This year, a massive second wave of the pandemic hit the country in the middle of April, which forced states to impose fresh restrictions.

However, the economy has now surpassed the pre-COVID-19 level.

In value terms, the GDP stood at Rs 35,73,451 crore in July-September 2021-22, higher than the Rs 35,61,530 crore in the corresponding period of the 2019-20 financial year.

The GDP had shrunk to Rs 32,96,718 crore in July-September last year during the nationwide lockdown.

GDP at Constant (2011-12) Prices in April-September 2021-22 (H1 2021-22) is estimated at Rs 68.11 lakh crore as against Rs 59.92 lakh crore during the corresponding period of the previous year, showing a growth of 13.7% in H1 2021-22 as against a contraction of 15.9% during the same period last year, it stated.

According to the NSO data, gross value added (GVA) growth in the manufacturing sector accelerated to 5.5% in the second quarter of 2021-22, compared to a contraction of 1.5% a year ago.

Farm sector GVA growth was up at 4.5%, compared to 3% growth earlier.

Construction sector GVA grew by 7.5% compared to degrowth of 7.2% earlier.

The mining sector grew by 15.4%, as against a contraction of 6.5%.

Electricity, gas, water supply and other utility services segment posted growth of 8.9% in the second quarter of this fiscal, against a 2.3%t expansion a year ago.

Similarly, trade, hotel, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting grew by 8.2% compared to 16.1% contraction earlier.

Financial, real estate and professional services growth stood at 7.8% in Q2 FY22 compared to a contraction of 9.1%.

Public administration, defence and other services grew at 17.4% during the quarter under review, compared to a 9.2% contraction a year earlier.

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