Ind-Ra lowers FY22 GDP growth forecast to 9.6% due to Covid 2.0

Average daily vaccinations during June 1 to 20 totalled 32 lakh which rose to 87.3 lakh on June 21.

New Delhi: India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has said its earlier estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 10.1 per cent for the current financial year (FY22) is unlikely to hold due to the speed and scale of Covid 2.0. It now expects GDP growth to come in at 9.6 per cent in FY22. This is however contingent upon India vaccinating its entire adult population by December 31. Average daily vaccinations during June 1 to 20 totalled 32 lakh which rose to 87.3 lakh on June 21.  If the pace of vaccination is maintained close to the June 21 level, said Ind-Ra, then India will be able to achieve the 9.6 per cent target. "In case the vaccination target gets delayed by three months either due to slow pace of vaccination or non-availability of vaccines, then the FY22 GDP growth will slip further down to 9.1 per cent." The Indian economy was witnessing a consumption slowdown even before the Covid-19 pandemic hit it. Private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) growth declined to 2 per cent in 4Q FY20 from 11.2 per cent in 3Q FY17.