India GDP Growth Forecast: V. Anantha Nageswaran, the chief economic adviser of India, believes that the country will exceed its GDP growth trajectory of 6.8 per cent comfortably in FY26, on the back of GST and income tax relief, stronger private investment and improving foreign inflows.
Nageswaran, while speaking at the CNBC-TV18 Global Leadership Summit 2025, said that he's comfortable saying even north of 6.8 per cent, adding that his original range was 6.3 to 6.8 per cent.
The Economic Survey tabled in parliament in January had projected real economic growth of 6.3-6.8 per cent for FY26.
"At this point, I'm quite confident saying growth will definitely be above 6.5%, and I'm even comfortable projecting it to be above 6.8%. However, before I talk about a 7% figure, I'd prefer to wait for the second-quarter numbers to confirm that direction," Nageswaran said at CNBC-TV18's Global Leadership Summit 2025.
CEA further said that the pace of growth would expedite, if if the bilateral trade deal between the US and India is concluded.
The Indian government in a major overhaul of Goods and Services Tax (GST) reduced the indirect taxes on most of mass consumption productions by rationalising the slab rates of 5 per cent and 18 per cent, along with an additional 40 per cent for 'sin goods'. Effective from September 22, new GST rates lowered the prices of most productions, aimed at boosting the consumption at mass level and expediting the economy.
India's gross domestic product (GDP) grew at 7.8 per cent in the first quarter ended June 30, 2025. The number had surpassed all GDP expectations as most analysts had pegged the Q1 FY26 GDP growth at 6.5-7%.
The Indian economy had grown at 6.5% in the year-ago quarter, and at 7.4% in the previous quarter (Q1 FY26).