Agri, manufacturing to push GDP grow to 7.2% in 2018-19: CSO

New Delhi: Indian economy is expected to grow at 7.2 percent in 2018-19 against 6.7 percent in the previous fiscal mainly due to improvement in the performance of agriculture and manufacturing sectors, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said Monday.

The CSO estimate is, however, a bit lower than 7.4 percent growth projected by the Reserve Bank for the current fiscal.

Releasing the first advance estimates of National Income for 2018-19, the CSO said, "The growth in GDP during 2018-19 is estimated at 7.2 percent as compared to the growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2017-18."

The gross domestic product (GDP) had expanded by 7.1 percent in 2016-17 and 8.2 percent in 2015-16.

"Real GVA (Gross Value Added) is anticipated to grow at 7 percent in the current fiscal as against 6.5 percent in 2017-18," it said.

Describing the 2018-19 GDP growth projection 'very healthy', Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said India has continued to remain the fastest growing economy in the world.

"Very healthy advance GDP growth numbers for 2018-19. GDP grows by 7.2% compared to 6.7% in 2017-18. India remains the fastest growing major economy globally. At current prices, GDP grows by 12.3% rising to 188.41 lakh crore. Per capita GDP at current prices rises to Rs 1,41,447," Garg said in a series of tweets.

He further said an increase in gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) indicates a pick up in investment activities.

"Especially gratifying, impressive and promising is the growth in gross fixed capital formation (GFCF). 12.2% real growth in 2018-19 compared to 7.6% in 2017-18 heralds excellent pick up in investment activity. GFCF as a ratio to GDP has risen to 32.9% from 31.4% in 2017-18," he said.

According to the CSO data, the expansion in activities in 'agriculture, forestry and fishing' is likely to increase to 3.8 percent in the current fiscal from 3.4 percent in the preceding year.

The growth of the manufacturing sector is expected to accelerate to 8.3 percent this fiscal, up from 5.7 percent in 2017-18.

However, the mining and quarrying sector growth rate is estimated to decline from 2.9 percent in 2017-18 to 0.8 percent in current fiscal. Trade, hotels, transport, communication and services related to broadcasting will too witness deceleration to 6.9 percent from 8 percent in the previous fiscal.

The growth rate of public administration, defence and other services will also dip to 8.9 percent from 10 percent last fiscal.

Electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services growth is estimated at 9.4 percent in 2018-19, up from 7.2 percent in the last fiscal. Similarly, the construction sector is expected to grow at 8.9 percent from 5.7 percent previous fiscal. Financial, real estate & professional services' growth will be a tad higher at 6.8 percent this fiscal against 6.6 percent in 2017-18.

According to the CSO estimates, the per capita net national income during 2018-19 will be Rs 1,25,397, showing a rise of 11.1 percent as compared to Rs 1,12,835 during 2017-18 with the growth rate of 8.6 percent.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), a barometer of investment, at current prices is estimated at Rs 55.58 lakh crore in 2018-19 as against Rs 47.79 lakh crore in 2017-18.

At Constant (2011-12) Prices, the GFCF is estimated at Rs 45.86 lakh crore in 2018-19 as against Rs 40.88 lakh crore in 2017-18.

In terms of GDP, the rates of the GFCF at Current and Constant (2011-12) prices during 2018-19 are estimated at 29.5 percent and 32.9 percent, respectively, as against the corresponding rates of 28.5 percent and 31.4 percent, respectively in 2017-18.

The discrepancies in the GDP estimates for current fiscal has been pegged at Rs 1,49,331 crore as against Rs 2,23,504 crore in 2017-18.

The Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) at Current Prices is estimated at Rs 21.70 lakh crore in 2018-19 as against Rs 19.08 lakh crore in 2017-18. At Constant (2011-12) Prices, the GFCE is estimated at Rs 15.28 lakh crore in 2018-19 as against Rs 14.0 lakh crore in 2017- 18.

In terms of GDP, the rates of GFCE at current and constant (2011-12) prices during 2018-19 are estimated at 11.5 percent and 11.0 percent, respectively, as against the corresponding rates of 11.4 percent and 10.8 percent, respectively in 2017-18.

Crisil Chief Economist Dharmakirti Joshi said revival in private investment is critical to sustaining the upswing in overall investments.

"Improvement in private consumption demand and a stable election outcome will play an important role in that. Private consumption was a sore spot with its growth slipping anew to 6.4 percent from 6.6 percent as farm incomes and rural wage growth remained weak," he said.

The real agriculture GDP growth was strong at 3.8 percent but nominal growth fell to 3.8 percent from 4.5 percent suggesting farmers are realising less from their produce, he said.