GS Analyst: Daily Current Affairs

Context:

The National Statistical Office (NSO) has released the second advance estimates of national income for the ongoing financial year (2023-24), projecting a growth rate of 7.6 percent for the Indian economy.

Growth Estimates and Factors:

• NSO's second advance estimates indicate a higher GDP growth rate of 7.6 percent for the current financial year, surpassing the initial estimate of 7.3 percent, with gross value added (GVA) projected to grow at 6.9 percent.
• Discrepancies between GDP and GVA growth rates may stem from fluctuations in net taxes on products, as evident in the third quarter data, where GVA growth was 6.5 percent, contrasting with GDP growth at 8.4 percent.
• Analysts highlight concerns over the sustainability of a surge in net taxes on products, while revisions in previous data reveal a decline in value added from 8.2 percent in the first quarter to 6.5 percent in the third quarter.

Sector-wise Performance:

• Agricultural sector growth is subdued, estimated at 0.7 percent for 2023-24, contrasting with the industrial sector's growth of 9 percent, driven by manufacturing and construction.
• Manufacturing sector, previously contracting, is expected to grow at 8.5 percent, reflecting improvements in industrial production, while construction sector growth is pegged at 10.7 percent.
• Services sector experiences a mild deceleration, with segments like trade, hotels, transport, communication, financial services, and public administration showing slower growth rates.

Consumption and Investment Trends:

• Consumption remains lackluster, despite overall economic growth, with private spending growing modestly at 3.5 percent in the third quarter and projected to grow at 3 percent for the full year.
• Investment activity presents a more positive outlook, growing at 10.2 percent for the year, suggesting optimism in business sentiment and economic expansion.
• NSO's latest estimates imply a potential slowdown in the fourth quarter, forecasting a GDP growth rate of 5.9 percent, prompting questions about the sustainability of growth momentum and factors influencing economic performance.