Fitch Ratings recently upgraded India’s growth projection for this fiscal (FY22) to 12.8 per cent from its previous estimate of 11 per cent based on a stronger statistical effect, a looser fiscal stance and better virus containment. India’s recovery from the depths of the lockdown-induced recession in the June quarter has been swifter than Fitch expected.

“The biggest revisions are for Turkey and India. India’s second half of 2020 rebound also took GDP back above its pre-pandemic level. Nevertheless, we expect the level of Indian GDP to remain well below our pre-pandemic forecast trajectory," the rating agency said in its latest Global Economic Outlook.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) earlier this month projected that the Indian economy will bounce back to grow at 12.6 per cent in FY22, the highest among G20 countries, aided by additional fiscal support after the covid-19 pandemic pushed the economy into recession after a gap of more than 40 years.

“GDP surpassed its pre-pandemic level in 2020 Q4, growing 0.4 per cent year on year (YoY), after contracting 7.3 per cent YoY in the previous quarter. The rapid pace of expansion at the end of 2020 was powered by falling virus cases and the gradual rollback of restrictions across states and union territories," Fitch added.

High-frequency indicators point to a strong start to 2021, the rating agency said. “The manufacturing PMI [purchasing managers’ index] remained elevated in February, while the pickup in mobility and a rise in the services PMI point to further gains in the services sector. However, the recent flare-up in new virus cases in some states has prompted us to expect milder growth in the June quarter of FY21. Moreover, the global auto chip shortage could temporarily diminish Indian industrial production gains in the first half of 2021," it said.

Fitch said the FY22 budget unveiled a fiscal stance more accommodative than it expected. “Spending is set to be increased substantially, notably infrastructure, healthcare, and military outlays. Looser fiscal policy should support the short-term cyclical recovery, which along with stronger underlying growth momentum prompted us to nudge up our FY22 GDP growth forecast substantially, to 12.8 per cent," it was quoted as saying by a new agency.

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