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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Clear data doubts on India's growth story -N Madhavan

Clear data doubts on India's growth story -N Madhavan

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published Published on Feb 15, 2019   modified Modified on Feb 15, 2019
-The Hindu Business Line

The government should explain constant variations in GDP figures. India’s reputation for data credibility could suffer

“The (revised GDP) numbers are the result of a hatchet job” tweeted former Finance Minister P Chidambaram after the Modi government published the back-series GDP data late November. Ahmed Patel, his colleague in the Congress party, added his bit: ‘In its desperate attempt to re-write GDP data, the government resembles a student who cannot pass an exam without cheating.’

These comments could well be dismissed as a rant by Congressmen in response to the revised numbers that lowered the average GDP growth during UPA rule from 7.75 per cent to 6.82 per cent which, to their bewilderment, is lower than the 7.35 per cent growth averaged during the Modi government.

Misleading


But the issue appears to be more than just politics. Researchers at Reserve Bank of India have also pointed out that the multiple revision of GDP growth estimates are ‘confusing’ and does not reveal the ‘true state of the economy’.

They were proved right when the government, late in January, revised the growth data for the years 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18.

This raised more questions as the revision saw growth during 2016-17 (the demonetisation year) jumping to 8.2 per cent from the earlier 7.2 per cent, making it the fastest growth rate under the new series.

Around the same time came reports of the government trying to suppress the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) report on unemployment. The report, which was eventually leaked to the media, showed unemployment at a 45-year high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18 as against 2.2 per cent in 2011-12.

Suddenly, Indian economic data, traditionally considered good and robust, is now being eyed with suspicion. Many have begun to fear whether the data has become a political tool in the hands of the government.

It all began when the present government, in January 2015, unveiled GDP data with 2011-12 as the new base year (from the earlier base year of 2004-05).

A base year is periodically revised to reflect the changes in the economy and capture growth better. But when a base year is changed, the GDP data for earlier years is also recast to aid better comparison and forecasts.

For some reason, the government presented the back-series only for 2011-12 to 2013-14. It was assumed that the data was not ready then. The back-series finally came after almost four long years (and that too only up to 2004-05) in November 2018, lowering the growth during UPA years. It did not go unnoticed that the data came just months before the Lok Sabha elections.

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The Hindu Business Line, 14 February, 2019, https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/clear-data-doubts-on-indias-growth-story/article26271962.ece


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