Honey, I Shrunk The Economy
Outlook|September 30, 2019
The rot in the vitals of the Indian economy is much deeper than what is discernible from outside. And the government’s policies are squarely to blame.
Honey, I Shrunk The Economy

Ministers of the BJP government are at pains to underscore that the fundamentals of the Indian economy are “strong”. investment, consumption, savings and employment constitute an economy’s fundamentals. in India’s case, all these parameters are signalling grave distress. A combination of poor policy choices with the continuous and systematic dismantling of India’s institutions has led to the current impasse. the slow meltdown of the Indian economy is a project that has now been in the works for five years.

India’s nominal GDP is $2.61 trillion and is growing at 5 percent—the slowest pace of growth in six years. the index of industrial Production of the manufacturing sector grew by 1.2 percent in June 2019, as compared to 6.9 percent in June 2018. the manufacturing sector’s growth during April-June 2019 was 3.1 percent as compared to 5.1 percent during the corresponding period of the previous year.

In July 2019, the production of eight core industries grew by 2.1 percent as compared to a growth of 7.3 percent recorded in July 2018. Production of eight core industries grew by 3 percent in April-July 2019 as compared to 5.9 percent in the corresponding period the previous year.

Consumption is an important indicator of the health of any economy. external consumption, or exports, had peaked in 2013-2014 at $314.88 billion, but reduced to $262.2 billion before recovering partially to $303.3 billion in 2017. Merchandise exports and imports (in Us$ terms) declined by 0.4 percent and 3.6 percent respectively in April-July 2019. in that period, oil imports declined by 5.7 percent and non-oil imports by 2.9 percent.

This has impacted India’s balance of payments. India’s current account deficit (CAD) was 2.1 percent of GDP (Us$ 57.2 billion) in 2018-19 as compared to 1.8 percent of GDP (Us$ 48.7 billion) in 2017-18. the widening of the CAD was primarily on account of higher trade deficit.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM OUTLOOKView all
Trump's White House 'Waapsi'
Outlook

Trump's White House 'Waapsi'

Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election may very well mean an end to democracy in the near future

time-read
6 mins  |
November 21, 2024
IMT Ghaziabad hosted its Annual Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2024
Outlook

IMT Ghaziabad hosted its Annual Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2024

Shri Suresh Narayanan, Chairman Managing Director of Nestlé India Limited, congratulated and motivated graduates at IMT Ghaziabad's Convocation 2024

time-read
2 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Identity and 'Infiltrators'
Outlook

Identity and 'Infiltrators'

The Jharkhand Assembly election has emerged as a high-stakes political contest, with the battle for power intensifying between key players in the state.

time-read
1 min  |
November 21, 2024
Beyond Deadlines
Outlook

Beyond Deadlines

Bibek Debroy could engage with even those who were not aligned with his politics or economics

time-read
2 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Portraying Absence
Outlook

Portraying Absence

Exhibits at a group art show in Kolkata examine existence in the absence

time-read
4 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Of Rivers, Jungles and Mountains
Outlook

Of Rivers, Jungles and Mountains

In Adivasi poetry, everything breathes, everything is alive and nothing is inferior to humans

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
Hemant Versus Himanta
Outlook

Hemant Versus Himanta

Himanta Biswa Sarma brings his hate bandwagon to Jharkhand to rattle Hemant Soren’s tribal identity politics

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
A Smouldering Wasteland
Outlook

A Smouldering Wasteland

As Jharkhand goes to the polls, people living in and around Jharia coalfield have just one request for the administration—a life free from smoke, fear and danger for their children

time-read
1 min  |
November 21, 2024
Search for a Narrative
Outlook

Search for a Narrative

By demanding a separate Sarna Code for the tribals, Hemant Soren has offered the larger issue of tribal identity before the voters

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024
The Historic Bonhomie
Outlook

The Historic Bonhomie

While the BJP Is trying to invoke the trope of Bangladeshi infiltrators”, the ground reality paints a different picture pertaining to the historical significance of Muslim-Adivasi camaraderie

time-read
5 mins  |
November 21, 2024