India’s economy grew at its slowest pace in over six years in the September quarter. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.5% in the second quarter of FY20 compared with 7.1% in the same quarter of 2018-19 data released by the government showed.
This was mainly due to weak manufacturing, falling consumer demand and a drop in exports due to a global slowdown.
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The output of eight core infrastructure industries declined by 5.8% in October, indicating the level of economic slowdown, according to the government data.
Coal production fell by 17.6%, crude oil by 5.1%, and natural gas by 5.7%. Production of cement, steel and electricity also declined during the month.
The only sector that grew in October was fertilizers where production increased by 11.8% year-on-year.
The fiscal deficit for April-October stood at Rs 7.2 trillion, or 102.4% of the budgeted target for the current financial year showed government data.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that recession was out of question in her reply to a debate in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
“If you are looking at the economy with a discerning view, you see that growth may have come down but it is not a recession yet; it will not be a recession ever,” Sitharaman said.
Net tax receipts in the April-October period was ₹6.83 lakh crore, while total expenditure was ₹16.55 lakh crore.