India's GDP to grow at 11 per cent this fiscal, surge in Covid cases may put economic recovery at risk: ADB

New Delhi, April 28

The Indian economy is projected to grow at 11 per cent in the current financial year amid the “strong” vaccine drive, said ADB on Wednesday, while cautioning that the recent surge in Covid cases may put the country’s economic recovery at “risk”.

“India’s economy is expected to grow 11 per cent in fiscal year (FY) 2021, which ends on March 31, 2022, amid a strong vaccine drive,” ADB said in its flagship Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021 released on Wednesday.

However, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) cautioned that the surge in COVID-19 cases may put the country’s economic recovery at risk.

For FY2022, India’s GDP is expected to expand at 7 per cent, it added.

Further, it said the gross domestic product (GDP) of South Asia is expected to rebound to 9.5 per cent this year, following a contraction of 6 per cent in 2020, before moderating to 6.6 per cent next year (2022), it said.

ADB said the economic growth in developing Asia is set to rebound to 7.3 per cent this year, supported by a healthy global recovery and an early progress on Covid vaccines. The projected resurgence follows a 0.2 per cent contraction last year.

The report projects that most economies in developing Asia will see healthy growth this year and in 2022.

Developing Asia comprises 46 members of ADB list on the basis of geographic group. These include new industrialised economies, countries in Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The report said in China, strong exports and a gradual recovery in household consumption would boost economic activity this year. PTI